Finra Investor Education Foundation
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE MISSION IS TO EMPOWER AMERICANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TOOLS TO MAKE SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS THROUGHOUT LIFE.
- Income
- $8.9 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $4.1 million, chairperson, thru 2/11/24, ex officio board member
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (3)
- $3.4 million spent. THE FOUNDATION PURSUES A MISSION TO EMPOWER AMERICANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND TOOLS TO MAKE SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS THROUGHOUT LIFE. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS MISSION THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, PRACTITIONER TRAINING, AND RESEARCH THAT HELP CONSUMERS ACHIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS AND THAT PROTECT THEM IN A COMPLEX AND DYNAMIC WORLD. THE FOUNDATION'S WORK ADDRESSES TWO STRATEGIC GOALS, NAMELY (1) HELPING PEOPLE BUILD WEALTH, AND (2) HELPING PEOPLE PROTECT WEALTH. HELPING PEOPLE BUILD WEALTH (2024 ALLOCATION: $3,421,505 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $537,145) AS PART OF ITS BUILD WEALTH GOAL, THE FOUNDATION HELPS CONSUMERS IN THE U.S. ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE FINANCIAL MAINSTREAM AND THE CAPITAL MARKETS. THE FOUNDATION'S FINANCIAL WELLNESS AT WORK PROJECT, ADMINISTERED IN COLLABORATION WITH UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE, HELPS NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY PROVIDE WORKPLACE FINANCIAL WELLNESS SERVICES FOR LOWER-INCOME EMPLOYEES. THE PROJECT ENCOMPASSES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES, MODEL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, GRANT FUNDING, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES. THROUGH VARIOUS INITIATIVES, THE FOUNDATION AND THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION COLLABORATE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PUBLIC AND TRIBAL LIBRARIES TO HELP PATRONS, YOUNG AND ADULT, LEARN ABOUT MONEY AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL GOALS. THIS SUPPORT COMPRISES MODEL FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT LIBRARIES IN EVERY STATE, GRANTS, THE PROVISION OF JUST-IN-TIME INFORMATION MATERIALS, AND ONLINE STAFF DEVELOPMENT COURSES CREATED BY AND FOR LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS. THE FOUNDATION'S MILITARY FINANCIAL READINESS PROJECT DELIVERS HIGH-QUALITY, UNBIASED INFORMATION AND TOOLS TO MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR SPOUSES, AND ONBASE FINANCIAL COUNSELORS. THROUGH TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH, THE FOUNDATION INCREASES FINANCIAL EXPERTISE AND SERVICES IN MILITARY COMMUNITIES, IMPROVES THE CREDIT MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR SPOUSES, AND PROVIDES OUTREACH SERVICES TO THE MILITARY COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION HAS A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL READINESS NETWORK STATEMENT OF SUPPORT AND HOLDS A UNITED STATES COAST GUARD QUALIFIED ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION. THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND PLANNING EDUCATION, WHICH HELPS MILITARY SPOUSE FELLOWS GAIN THE EXPERTISE AND CREDENTIALS TO DELIVER FINANCIAL COUNSELING SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION'S MANY EFFORTS TO ADVANCE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE ALABAMA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, ARIZONA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, GEORGIA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, MARYLAND COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION, AND BESTPREP IN MINNESOTA TO EXPAND INVESTOR EDUCATION FOR TITLE I STUDENTS IN THOSE STATES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PARTNERS WITH GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA TO EXPAND THE FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT OF GIRLS, AND WITH THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE, CAPABILITY, AND DECISION-MAKING WHILE IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. TO FURTHER BUILD FINANCIAL CAPACITY IN COMMUNITIES, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LATINO COMMUNITY ASSET BUILDERS. WITH REGARD TO RESEARCH, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES RIGOROUS DATA AND ANALYSIS RELATED TO FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND INVESTING. THE FOUNDATION'S NATIONAL FINANCIAL CAPABILITY STUDY (NFCS) IS A LARGE-SCALE, MULTI-YEAR PROJECT THAT ADVANCES COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND INVESTING PRACTICES OF ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE STUDY TRACKS KEY INDICATORS OF FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND INVESTING BEHAVIOR AND EVALUATES HOW THESE INDICATORS VARY OVER TIME. THE NFCS, IN TURN, INSPIRES ADDITIONAL STUDIES ON MAJOR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY ISSUES AFFECTING AMERICANS. THE FOUNDATION'S CONSUMER INSIGHTS ON MONEY AND INVESTING SERIES EXAMINES TIMELY PERSONAL FINANCE AND INVESTING TOPICS OF IMPORTANCE TO CONSUMERS. THE FOUNDATION'S DISSERTATION COMPLETION FELLOWSHIPS SUPPORT DOCTORAL CANDIDATES WITHIN THEIR LAST YEAR OF DISSERTATION WRITING WHO ARE PURSUING RESEARCH ON FINANCIAL CAPABILITY AND RELATED TOPICS.
- $1.1 million spent. HELPING PEOPLE PROTECT WEALTH (2024 ALLOCATION: $1,145,921) UNDER ITS PROTECT WEALTH GOAL, THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM FINANCIAL FRAUD, PREVENT FRAUD THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION, AND AMELIORATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FRAUD. THE FOUNDATION EDUCATES AMERICANS ABOUT FINANCIAL FRAUD, HOW TO AVOID AND REPORT IT, AND THE STEPS TO TAKE IF VICTIMIZED. THROUGH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES, THE FOUNDATION INCREASES FRAUD PREVENTION AND AWARENESS, EMPOWERS CONSUMERS, AND TRAINS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VICTIM ADVOCATES TO RECOGNIZE, PREVENT, AND MITIGATE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FINANCIAL FRAUD. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH THE FOUNDATION AS PART OF ITS INVESTOR PROTECTION CAMPAIGN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: AARP; CYBERCRIME SUPPORT NETWORK; GIVE AN HOUR; THE BBB INSTITUTE FOR MARKETPLACE TRUST; FIRST NATIONS DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE; NATIONAL CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME; AND NATIONAL WHITE COLLAR CRIME CENTER. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PURSUES AN ACTIVE RESEARCH AGENDA FOCUSED ON COMBATING FINANCIAL FRAUD IN AMERICA, COGNITIVE AGING AND FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING, AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WORKS WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL PROTECTION.
- $54,180 spent. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - (2024 ALLOCATION: $54,180) THE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOAL'S FOCUS IS TO OPTIMIZE THE FOUNDATION'S HUMAN AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL, ABILITY TO INNOVATE, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH CONSUMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.