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Dr Gertrude a Barber Educational Institute Inc

EIN 25-1755526 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak9 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 33% 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

DEDICATED TO INCREASING OPPORTUNITY AND INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AS WELL AS DEVELOPING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED AND FULLY ACCEPTED. THE INSTITUTE'S APPROACH TO ITS MISSION IS GROUNDED ON THREE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS ENCOMPASSING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES STATE-OF-THE ART LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES EDUCATION AND CONSTRUCTIVE SERVICES TO PROFESSIONALS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO TREAT, EDUCATE, WORK WITH OR INTERACT WITH PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. THE INSTITUTE PROVIDES HEALTHY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL PERSONS ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT IN PHYSICAL ENDEAVORS, TO PROMOTE A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT LIFESTYLE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND FINALLY, BY INCREASING INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ARTS, WE WEAVE A RICHER AND MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY FOR ALL.

Income
$179,143
Spending
$370,849
Spent on programs
33%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 56%
Employees
0
Volunteers
224
Highest pay
$754,763, president/chairman

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

Weak: 9 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 72% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 107% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    33% 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

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 7 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.

  • 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. $121,252 spent. SINCE 2013, THE DR. GERTRUDE A. BARBER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE HAS ORGANIZED AND PRESENTED THE BARBER BEAST AN ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING A SPECIALLY ADAPTED 1-MILE COURSE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INCLUSION AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND A CHALLENGING 10-MILE OBSTACLE COURSE FOR ALL OTHER REGISTRANTS. OVER 12 YEARS, THE EVENT ENGAGED MORE THAN 13,000 PARTICIPANTS AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, FEATURED 30+ CUSTOM DESIGNED OBSTACLES PROMOTING TEAMWORK AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND RAISED APPROXIMATELY $850,000 TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE FINAL EVENT, WHICH RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE ADAPTED COURSE, WAS HELD IN SEPT. 2025, WITH MORE THAN 1,500 PARTICIPANTS IN THE 10-MILE COURSE AND OVER 100 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ADAPTED COURSE. IN THE FUTURE, THE BARBER BEAST WILL CONSIST OF ONLY THE ADAPTIVE COURSE FORMAT EMPHASIZING OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION.
  2. $243 spent. THE AUTISM MANUAL IS USED TO EDUCATE PROFESSIONALS TREATING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AS WELL AS FAMILIES OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH THE CHALLENGES OF AUTISM. THE MANUAL HAS BEEN SOLD TO A VARIETY OF USERS SUCH AS INDIVIDUALS, BOOKSTORES, AND COLLEGES WHICH USE THE BOOK IN THEIR CURRICULUM FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. IN 2023, AN EXTENSIVE REVISION OF THE AUTISM MANUAL WAS COMPLETED, AND SALES OF THE REVISED MANUAL CONTINUE IN 2025.

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 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 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 August 1995.

    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.