Pasadena Educational Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS WORKING TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY IN ALL PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (PUSD) SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $18.2 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 144
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $208,425, 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 54% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 259% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2535 of 35 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)
- $6.5 million spent. PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (PEF) IS A NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION WHICH JOINS THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN A PARTNERSHIP TO (1) DEVELOP SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (PUSD) PROGRAMS, (2) ENCOURAGE DEDICATED TEACHERS BY FUNDING CREATIVE PROJECTS AND (3) PROMOTE COMMUNITY-WIDE CONFIDENCE IN THE PUSD AND ITS SCHOOLS. SEE SCHEDULE I FOR A LISTING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR'S PROGRAM SERVICE GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO CONTRIBUTIONS DIRECTLY RECEIVED BY THE PEF FROM PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS, THE PEF, IN COORDINATION WITH THE PUSD, SOLICITS CONTRIBUTIONS THAT GO DIRECTLY FROM THE DONOR TO THE PUSD.
- $901,688 spent. THE FOUNDATION OPERATES A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, THAT SERVES AREA K-12 STUDENTS, PREDOMINANTLY DRAWING FROM THE PUSD STUDENT POPULATION, BUT ALSO AVAILABLE TO PRIVATE, PAROCHIAL, AND OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IS SUSTAINED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF TUITION FEES PAID BY PARENTS AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS; THOSE CHARITABLE DONATIONS ENABLE THE FOUNDATION TO KEEP ITS COSTS COMPETITIVE AND OFFER TUITION ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1971.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.