Heartland Institute for Financial Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BRINGING FINANCIAL LITERACY TO PEOPLE ACROSS NORTH AMERICA THROUGH ON-SITE CLASSES OFFERED BY OUR CFE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL EDUCATORS (CFEd) AND PROMOTING HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE GLOBE
- Income
- $285,993
- Spending
- $272,311
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- 16.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $51,603, former director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $4,437 spent. BY OFFERING FINANCIAL WELLNESS COURSES TO EMPLOYERS ALL ACROSS AMERICA, THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES TO OVER 800 EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING CORPORATIONS, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, CHURCHES, HOSPITALS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, COLLEGES, HIGH SCHOOLS, AND MORE. OUR INSTRUCTORS HAVE PROVIDED FINANCIAL EDUCATION FOR OVER 10,000 ADULT LEARNERS WHO HAVE GAINED THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION AND ENJOY A MORE COMPLETE, FINANCIALLY SECURE LIFE. THESE CLASSES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ONGOING TRAINING AND GUIDANCE FOR ADULTS AS WE CONSISTENTLY FIND NEW WAYS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT ADULTS IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
- $136,055 spent. BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE AND PROFESSIONAL COACHING TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS WE HAVE HELPED OVER 3,500 STUDENTS NOT ONLY SELECT THE BEST CAREER AND COLLEGE, BUT ALSO SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. ONE OF THE KEY AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE INSTITUTE IS TO PROVIDE PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL COACHING SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY FINDING QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT, BOTH FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR TEACHING PERSPECTIVE AND FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS. THESE COACHES PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH HANDS-ON GUIDANCE AT AN AFFORDABLE COST.
- ALL PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING OUR TWO MAIN PROGRAMS. ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS UNALLOCATED PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE FOR REIMBURSED EXPENSES.
- ALL PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING 0. 0. 52.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.