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Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation

EIN 20-3779020 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOUNDATION (OTEF) EDUCATES AND INVESTS IN PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATE HOPE. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE EDUCATION FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS, PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN EXPLORING FUTURE CAREERS, AND OUR AZADVANCES INITIATIVE WHICH SUPPORTS THE CREATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF ARIZONA-BASED HEALTH INNOVATIONS.

Income
$207,147
Spending
$135,157
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
28.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 45%
Employees
4
Volunteers
45

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 204% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    10 of 10

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

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $118,803 spent. VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ARIZONA BIOINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PROVIDED 1:1 MENTORING SESSIONS TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS. OUR STUDENT DISCOVERY ZONE PROGRAM (PART OF OUR AZADVANCES TALENT PROGRAM) PROVIDED HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS AND SHOWCASE THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS. AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP PRIZES WERE COMPETITIVELY AWARDED. TWO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WERE EMPLOYED AS PART TIME STUDENT INTERNS IN 2025 FOR 3 MONTHS EACH. THE AZADVANCES CAPITAL PROGRAM MADE NO INVESTMENTS INTO EARLY STAGE LIFE SCIENCE COMPANIES IN 2025. OUR CURRENT MISSION RELATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO INCLUDES THREE INVESTMENTS FROM 2023. THESE EQUITIES WILL BE HELD BY OTEF AND THE FUTURE INVESTMENT PROCEEDS REMAIN WITH OTEF. ON DEC 29, 2022, THE ARIZONA STATE BOARD OF INVESTMENT APPROVED A CONTRACT WITH THE ARIZONA STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE (ASTO) FOR OTEF TO RECEIVE ONGOING DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ARIZONA HEALTH INNOVATION TRUST FUND TO SUPPORT ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSE AND TO PERFORM SPECIFIED SERVICES AS SET FORTH IN A.R.S. 41-177. THE FIRST DISTRIBUTIONS FROM ASTO WILL BEGIN IN 2027. $75,000 IN SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED FROM THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN 2025. BEGINNING IN 2025, THE ORGANIZATION ENTERED INTO A FEE FOR SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE ARIZONA BIOINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE MISSION RELATED ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 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 March 2006.

    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.