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Pennsylvanias State System of Higher Education Foundation

EIN 22-2686249 · Harrisburg, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND ACTIVITIES OF PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION (STATE SYSTEM) BY GENERATING PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND ENGAGING IN OTHER ACTIVITIES TO ADVANCE THE STATE SYSTEM.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
17.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
5
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$203,146, president & ceo

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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 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 (2)
  1. $2.5 million spent. THE PASSHE FOUNDATION EXISTS TO POWER PENNSYLVANIA'S TALENT PIPELINE, ADVANCE UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE, AND FORGE PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE PENNSYLVANIA'S TALENT STRATEGY, AS THE FUNDRAISING ARM OF PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION. PASSHE FOUNDATION IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER OF THE STATE SYSTEM OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR, LEADS CONSORTIA FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF MULTI-UNIVERSITY PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES, AND SERVES AS A CONVENER TO BRING TOGETHER LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR. IN SUPPORT OF POWERING PENNSYLVANIA'S TALENT PIPELINE, THE FOUNDATION SECURES FUNDS FOR AND MANAGES PROGRAMS AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMERGENCY GRANTS THAT ARE NEED-BASED, INDUSTRY-FOCUSED, AND ACADEMICALLY COMPETITIVE TO STUDENTS ATTENDING THE 10 UNIVERSITIES OF PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION. DURING THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED 1,065 SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMERGENCY GRANTS, TOTALING $1,640,211. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND AFFORDABILITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ENSURING STUDENTS PERSIST THROUGH TO GRADUATION AND ATTAIN A DEGREE. ONE-THIRD OF THE STATE SYSTEM'S STUDENTS COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE ARE THE FIRST GENERATION IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE. THE FOUNDATION'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM NOT ONLY REDUCES THE COST BURDEN OF A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION BUT ALSO REDUCES THEIR STUDENT LOAN DEBT. STATE SYSTEM STUDENTS FUEL PA'S ECONOMIC VITALITY. TEN YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, 75% OF LOW-INCOME STUDENTS HAVE MOVED INTO MIDDLE-CLASS AND THUS ACHIEVED ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND 63% REMAIN IN WORKING IN PA.
  2. $479,769 spent. TO FORGE PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVANCE UNIVERSITY EXCELLENCE, THE FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES AND ACQUIRES RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SYSTEM-WIDE INITIATIVES AND MULTI-CAMPUS INITIATIVES. PASSHE FOUNDATION SECURED FUNDS AND CREATED EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS TO KICK-START AN INITIATIVE TO EMBED REAL WORLD WORK EXPERIENCES INTO THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM THROUGH A MULTI-UNIVERSITY PILOT PROGRAM INVOLVING FIVE OF ITS UNIVERSITIES AND WHICH WILL LAUNCH ACROSS THE STATE SYSTEM'S 10 UNIVERSITIES AND 14 CAMPUSES IN THE 2027-28 ACADEMIC YEAR. DURING THE 2024-25 YEAR, THE FOUNDATION ALSO SECURED PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO ACCELERATE COURSE AND PROGRAM SHARING INITIATIVES AND TO CONVENE STATE SYSTEM AND UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP TO REIMAGINE ITS UNIVERSITY-BASED AND SYSTEM-WIDE STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING PENNSYLVANIA'S EDUCATOR TRAINING PIPELINE. THIS SUMMIT, OCCURRING IN FALL 2025, WILL FACILITATE REGIONAL COLLABORATION AND EQUIP STATE SYSTEM UNIVERSITIES TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY PREPARE THE TEACHER CORPS PENNSYLVANIA NEEDS TO GROW AND THRIVE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1986.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.