Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Kepler Inc

EIN 20-0934525 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KEPLER OFFERS ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN EAST AFRICA. THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS IN RWANDA INCLUDE ACCESS TO US ACCREDITED DEGREES AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES.

Income
$6.0 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
2
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$169,827, vice chancellor

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $5.5 million spent. KEPLER LAUNCHED IN KIGALI, RWANDA WITH A HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT ALLOWED STUDENTS TO ACCESS A HIGH-QUALITY UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE THROUGH A COMBINATION OF IN PERSON, ONLINE AND ON THE JOB EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS CURRENTLY EARN AN AMERICAN DEGREE ONLINE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY. KEPLER IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A LOCALLY CONTEXTUALIZED BACHELORS OF ARTS DEGREE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND SEEKING ACCREDITATION AS A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN RWANDA (RECEIVED IN 2022). ALL KEPLER STUDENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE CAREER PREPARATION AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. KEPLER USES TECHNOLOGY FOR A BLENDED LEARNING EXPERIENCE ON CAMPUS AND PROVIDES STUDENTS COACHING THROUGH THE ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. THE PROGRAM BEGAN WITH 50 STUDENTS IN 2014 AND CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 500 STUDENTS ON ITS KIGALI CAMPUS. STUDENTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A DORMITORY, A LIVING STIPEND, AND HEALTHCARE SUPPORT. OVER 90% OF GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED IN MEANINGFUL JOBS WITHIN 6 MONTHS OR LESS OF GRADUATION.
  2. $982,689 spent. IN 2015, KEPLER ESTABLISHED A SECOND CAMPUS AT THE KIZIBA REFUGEE CAMP IN WESTERN RWANDA. THE PROJECT BEGAN WITH 25 STUDENTS AND CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 152 STUDENTS. THE CAMPUS OPERATES INSIDE THE CAMP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY (UNHCR) AND THE RWANDAN GOVERNMENT. STUDENTS WHO ATTEND CLASSES ON CAMPUS IN KIZIBA EARN AN AMERICAN ONLINE DEGREE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY AND RECEIVE CAREER PREPARATION AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. UNLIKE THE KIGALI PROGRAM, STUDENTS LIVE IN THE CAMP AND STAFF TRAVEL TO THE CAMP FROM A NEARBY TOWN. ALL STUDENTS RECEIVE FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
  3. $340,007 spent. IN 2020, KEPLER STARTED ITS OPERATIONS IN ETHIOPIA. FUNDING WAS RECEIVED FROM SAVE THE CHILDREN TO START A GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM AND EVENTUALLY WORK WITH STUDENTS TO FIND JOBS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 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 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.