Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE, SUSTAIN AND INVEST IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY THROUGH INNOVATION AND PARTNERING. WE BUILD LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CLIENTS BY APPLYING EXPERTISE, CREATIVITY, AND FOCUSED RESOURCES TO ADDRESS BUSINESS CHALLENGES. AS THE COMMONWEALTH'S TECHNOLOGY LEADER, WE LEVERAGE OUR CREDIBILITY AND DISTINCTIVENESS TO PROMOTE HIGH-VALUE BUSINESS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $11.8 million
- Spending
- $11.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 48.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $785,941, board member
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 48.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $5.0 million spent. Business and Technical Assistance Projects - Companies are linked with universities, funding and other resources to help them prosper through innovation. The strategy includes developing early-stage, technology-oriented companies and helping established manufacturers creatively apply new technology and business practices.
- $5.0 million spent. Technology Infrastructure Activities - Promoting an innovative community-wide infrastructure that fosters a favorable business environment for high-growth companies. Ben Franklin Technology Partners of NEPA inaugurated one of the first business incubators in the nation in 1983 and managed and developed its award-winning incubator to be among the best. In 2007, BFTP/NEP relocated its original incubator across the street on Lehigh University's Mountaintop Campus to Ben Franklin TechVentures, a former Bethlehem Steel laboratory. The National Business Incubation Association named Ben Franklin TechVentures the 2012 National Incubator of the Year, a remarkable repeat of Ben Franklin's 2001 honor. Ben Franklin TechVentures brings together entrepreneurs, Ben Franklin staff, and Lehigh faculty and students to accelerate the growth of the region's technology economy. In 2010, the Partners purchased the Bloomsburg Innovation Center located in Bloomsburg, PA.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1989.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.