Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Foundation for Free Enterprise Education

EIN 25-1394365 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BELOW

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
53.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 60%
Employees
36
Volunteers
165
Highest pay
$191,602, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 53.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% 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 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 September 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 (1)
  1. $920,761 spent. THE FOUNDATION FOR FREE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED THREE YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS CENTERED AROUND BUSINESS, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS THAT IMPACTED NEARLY 15,000 YOUNG PENNSYLVANIANS IN PROGRAM YEAR 2025. PENNSYLVANIA FREE ENTERPRISE WEEK (PFEW) TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT MODERN BUSINESS AND FREE ENTERPRISE AND HELPS THEM DEVELOP RELEVANT, JOB-READY SKILLS. ONCE AGAIN, PFEW OPERATED FIVE WEEK-LONG SUMMER SESSIONS ON THE CAMPUSES OF LYCOMING COLLEGE AND PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN WILLIAMSPORT, PA, EDUCATING 1,890 STUDENTS STATEWIDE. THE STOCK MARKET GAME (SMG) CONTINUED TO GROW, EDUCATING A RECORD 10,935 STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-12 DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. SMG IS AN IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT INVESTING, CAPITAL MARKETS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. THE SPEAKER SERIES ADDED MORE CAREER EXPLORATION VIDEOS AND REGIONAL PROGRAMS AND CREATED TWO CAREER EXPLORATION WORKBOOKS, ONE FOR STUDENTS AND ONE FOR TEACHERS, THAT ALIGN WITH PA STATE CAREER EDUCATION AND WORK (CEW) AND PERSONAL FINANCE STANDARDS. THE SERIES VIDEOS AND ONLINE RESOURCES GAINED OVER 2,000 ADDITIONAL UNIQUE VIEWS IN 2025. ALL THREE OF OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS MEET OR EXCEED THE NEW PERSONAL FINANCE STANDARDS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA CEW STANDARDS. OUR PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY ALIGN WITH ACT 158 AND THE PDE/CTE'S PROGRAM OF STUDY TASK LIST FOR SALES, DISTRIBUTION, AND MARKETING OPERATIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 April 1981.

    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 November 4, 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.