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Edison Innovation Foundation

EIN 22-3442892 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 12% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE HISTORICAL FACILITIES AND PAPERS OF THOMAS EDISON WHERE AND IN WHICH HE INVENTED THE PRODUCTS THAT SHAPED THE MODERN WORLD;TO BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

Income
$991,470
Spending
$734,242
Spent on programs
12%
Reserves
44.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
3
Volunteers
1
Highest pay
$220,458, chairman,pres

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    12% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 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

    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, 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. $88,852 spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTSPLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT
  2. EIF'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO RAISE $90 MILLION FOR THE RESTORATION AND UPKEEP OF EDISON'S LEGACY THROUGHOUT AMERICA. ON OCTOBER 9TH, 2009, THE LEGENDARY EDISON LABS IN WEST ORANGE, NJ OPENED AFTER MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OF MAJOR RENOVATIONS. THESE BUILDINGS WERE IN CRITICAL NEED OF REPAIR, AND THE COLLECTIONS INCLUDING, NOTEBOOKS, EARLY PROTOTYPES, AND THOUSANDS OF EARLY RECORDINGS WERE IN DANGER OR BEING LOST DUE TO DETERIORATION. THE INITIAL FOCUS OF THIS CAMPAIGN WAS TO SUPPORT THE NEWLY RENAMED THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK("TENHP') AND ASSOCIATED EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH EFFORTS IN GENERAL. HOWEVER, DURING THIS INITIAL PHASE, EIF IS ALSO WORKING ON INDIVIDUAL PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS AS WELL AS FORMING ALLIANCES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. SOME RECENT PUBLIC SECTOR WORK IS DESCRIBED IN SECTION BELOW. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)

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 July 1996.

    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.