Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Polar Education Foundation

EIN 20-5853356 · Canada

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTIC AND THE ANTARCTIC REGIONS. IT IS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE WORLD'S POLAR REGIONS BY EMPOWERING YOUTH AND POLAR EDUCATORS. THE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$437,001
Spending
$381,151
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
3
Highest pay
$10,058, executive director

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $350,000 spent. THE ORGANIZATION SPONSORS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN SCHOOLS DEALING WITH THE POLAR REGIONS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO DEVELOPS MATERIALS FOR TEACHERS TO USE IN THEIR CURRICULUM ON THE POLAR REGIONS. IN ADDITION TO THE IN-SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCIENTISTS WITH THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE ARCTIC AND THE ANTARCTIC BY HOSTING RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL EXPEDITIONS TO THOSE AREAS. EACH YEAR, THERE IS ONE TRIP TO THE ARTIC AND ONE TRIP TO ANTARCTICA. THE COST PER PERSON IS APPROXIMATELY $10,000. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EXPEDITION WILL LEARN INVALUABLE LESSONS AND WILL RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND SCHOOLS AS "POLAR AMBASSADORS" FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. IT IS HOPED THAT THESE STUDENTS WILL ENCOURAGE AND FOSTER ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AND CONSERVATION IN THEIR PEERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) EACH ADMITTED STUDENT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WHICH WILL BEGIN WITH PREPARATORY STUDY AND RESEARCH PRIOR TO THE EXPEDITION. DURING THE EXPEDITION, EXPERIENCED EXPERTS WILL BE ON BOARD OFFERING SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES FOCUSED ON MANY TOPICS INCLUDING THE HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, CULTURE, SCIENCE, FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE ARCTIC OR ANTARCTIC. THE EXPEDITION STAFF WILL INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTISTS CONDUCTING ON-GOING RESEARCH PROJECTS IN WHICH THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. DAILY FIELD EXCURSIONS IN THE ARCTIC AND ANTARCTICA WILL BRING THEIR STUDIES TO LIFE AND MAKE THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE ENRICHING AND LIFE CHANGING.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2010 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2010.

    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 July 2014.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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