Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Bethlehem Area Education Foundation

EIN 23-2896860 · Bethlehem, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% 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

MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BETHLEHEM. PROMOTE TEACHER INNOVATION TO ADVANCE CURRICULUM AND DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. SUPPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZE CORE LEARNING, STRETCH LEARNING, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND PERSONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT. ENCOURAGE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION. PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP FOR DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$362,007
Spending
$274,785
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$87,000, executive director

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

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 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. $97,870 spent. TEACHER INNOVATION GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT, INITIATIVE, TEACHING STRATEGY, TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION OR OTHER EFFORT PROVIDING MEASURABLE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING AND STUDENT INTEREST IN LEARNING BY PROVIDING EDUCATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR PASSION FOR TEACHING, DEVELOP THEIR IDEAS, PARTNER WITH COLLEAGUES AND CONNECT WITH THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE AND TALENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY.SERVICE-LEARNING GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS TO IMPLEMENT HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS. SERVICE-LEARNING IS A TEACHING STRATEGY THAT CONNECTS CLASSROOM CURRICULUM WITH SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS SOCIALLY, CIVICALLY AND ACADEMICALLY. A HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE COMBINES MEANINGFUL SERVICE WITH IN-DEPTH LEARNING. SERVICE-LEARNING BEGINS WITH CLASSROOM CONTENT AND MOVES INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SERVICE-PROJECT.THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES PROGRAM IS A SEQUENCE OF COURSES, ALL ALIGNED WITH APPROPRIATE NATIONAL LEARNING STANDARDS, WHICH FOLLOWS A PROVEN HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH TO LEARNING. THIS HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLES OF BIOMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS THEY STUDY THE CONCEPTS OF HUMAN MEDICINE, PHYSIOLOGY, GENETICS, MICROBIOLOGY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH. WORKING WITH THE SAME TOOLS USED BY PROFESSIONALS IN HOSPITALS AND LABS, STUDENTS ENGAGE IN COMPELLING, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. ALONG THE WAY STUDENTS INVESTIGATE A VARIETY OF CAREERS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY PATHWAY ENGINEERING PROGRAM IS A SEQUENCE OF COURSES THAT FOLLOWS A PROVEN HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH TO LEARNING. THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STEP INTO THE VARIED ROLES ENGINEERS PLAY IN OUR SOCIETY, DISCOVER NEW CAREER PATHS AND POSSIBILITIES, AND DEVELOP ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. AS STUDENTS WORK IN TEAMS TO DESIGN AND TEST SOLUTIONS, THEY ARE EMPOWERED, AND DEVELOP IN-DEMAND, TRANSPORTABLE SKILLS LIKE COLLABORATION, CRITICAL THINKING, AND COMMUNICATION.OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDE:- ANTI-RACISM INITIATIVE- MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE- DIGITAL BASD INITIATIVE- FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM- FIELD TRIPS- EARLY COLLEGE DUAL ENROLLMENT
  2. $22,250 spent. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

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 November 1998.

    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.