Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Construction Industry Educational Foundation

EIN 20-0595531 · Sacramento, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Develops construction, design, and trade professionals through educational endeavors, mentoring initiatives, and training activities.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
12
Volunteers
238

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: TRADES DAY PROVIDES NEARLY 1,500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH INTRODUCTORY HANDS-ON CAREER EXPLORATION ACTIVITES PROVIDED BY MORE THAN 50 COMPANIES FROM THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT.
  2. Design Build Competition - During the four-month program, each high school team is challenged to design and prepare several construction documents according to criteria outlined by CIEF. Teams will build their structure during a two-day competition and are judged by industry professionals on the completion of design, construction, code compliance, and safety. CIEF transported all construction materials to high school campuses in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions on gatherings and field trips. Schools are challenged to donate their structures to local nonprofits or sell them to benefit their school program.
  3. SCHOLARHIPS ARE AWARDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, TO FAMILY MEMBERS OR SRBX MEMBERS PURSUING CAREERS IN ANY FIELD, AND TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PURSUE SUMMER CAREER EXPLORATION CAMPS AND ACTIVITIES.
  4. THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENTCREATE MENTORING PROGRAM CREATE EXISTS TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREER PATHWAYS WHICH CREATE THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS MENTOR STUDENT TEAMS IN A TWELVE-WEEK COMPETITION TO ANSWER A REAL-WORLD PROBLEM. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, VISIT LOCAL ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING OFFICES, VISIT ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION JOB SITES, ATTEND TRADES DAY AND COMPETE WITH OTHER REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS IN FRONT OF INDUSTRY JUDGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.