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Ben Franklin Technology Center of Southeastern Pennsylvania

EIN 23-2527210 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% 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

BEN FRANKLIN LEADS THE REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY NURTURING AND INVESTING IN INNOVATIVE, EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES, AND PURPOSEFUL INVOLVEMENT IN RELEVANT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES.

Income
$15.5 million
Spending
$9.3 million
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
104.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 47%
Employees
35
Volunteers
99
Highest pay
$557,263, cfo/asst corporate treasurer

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 104.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% 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 25

    20 of 21 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. $2.8 million spent. CAPITAL INVESTMENT, BUSINESS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: BEN FRANKLIN SEEKS TO CREATE A THRIVING ECONOMY, POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED INNOVATION AND A SUPPORTIVE ECOSYSTEM FOR EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES. BEN FRANKLIN HAS SUPPORTED ENTREPRENEURS BY PROVIDING THE CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIR VISIONS. BEN FRANKLIN PROVIDES EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES CUSTOMIZED, ONE-ON-ONE REAL-WORLD KNOWLEDGE IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION, MARKETING, FUNDRAISING, ACCOUNTING, OPERATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND MORE, GIVING ACCESS TO ITS WIDE RANGE OF MENTORING, BUSINESS, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND ITS EVER-EXPANDING NETWORK OF ADVISORS AND PARTNERS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. TECHNOLOGY & ENTREPRENEURIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: BEN FRANKLIN IMPROVES THE REGION'S ECONOMY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INNOVATION, INCLUDES WORK TO IDENTIFY AND GROW REGIONAL RESOURCES THAT CATALYZE AND DEVELOP REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY ASSETS THAT CAN BECOME PLATFORMS FOR NEW ENTERPRISE GROWTH AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT TALENT. BEN FRANKLIN LEADS AND PARTNERS IN THE FORMATION OF UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COMMERCIALIZATION MODELS; IDENTIFIES AND SUPPORTS COMMERCIALIZATION ACCELERATION ENGAGEMENTS BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AND EMERGING ENTERPRISES; PROVIDES SUPPORT AND/OR MANAGES REGIONAL INCUBATORS AND ACCELERATORS; ENDORSES THE PUBLICATION OF CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY REPORTS; ENGAGES IN EFFORTS TO STIMULATE COMPANY FORMATION AMONG WOMEN AND MINORITIES; IS ACTIVE IN THE REGION'S IMPACT INVESTMENT COMMUNITY; AND PARTNERS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND INTERACTION VIA SEMINARS AND EVENTS.

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 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 June 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 1989.

    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.