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Bellwether Education Partners Inc

EIN 26-1914515 · Sudbury, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BELLWETHER IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT, FOUNDED IN 2010, THAT WORKS TO ENSURE YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY, ACHIEVE OUTCOMES THAT LEAD TO FULFILLING LIVES AND FLOURISHING COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND LIVE LIVES FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$23.6 million
Spending
$27.1 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
133
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$552,048, president/senior partner until 10/24

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 August 31, 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. $22.5 million spent. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2010, WE HAVE WORKED TO DEVELOP AND AMPLIFY THE INSIGHTS, INNOVATIONS, AND IDEAS NECESSARY TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY BY:1. SUPPORTING MISSION-DRIVEN CLIENTS FROM SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO NONPROFITS AND PHILANTHROPIES AS THEY NAVIGATE TOUGH DECISIONS2. INFORMING THE SECTOR WITH CLEAR INSIGHTS AND BOLD IDEA3. BRINGING LEADERS TOGETHER TO LEARN, CONNECT, AND DRIVE CHANGEOUR WORK SPANS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THROUGH POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER PATHWAYS. OUR TEAM OF NEARLY 100 EXPERTS PAIRS DEEP KNOWLEDGE ACROSS ALL THESE AREAS WITH EXPERIENCE ON THE GROUND AS EDUCATORS, SCHOOL LEADERS, POLICYMAKERS, AND EXECUTIVES IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS ALLOWING US TO OFFER UNPARALLELED INSIGHTS FOR OUR CLIENTS AND THE SECTOR.WE HAVE WORKED WITH MORE THAN 800 CLIENTS NATIONWIDE IN SOME OF THE NATION'S LARGEST CITIES AND MOST REMOTE RURAL AREAS SUPPORTING THEM WITH STRATEGY, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND ANALYSIS OF HOW THE EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM SHAPES THEIR WORK. OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, CHARTER NETWORKS, TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, STATE EDUCATION LEADERS, REGION-BASED INTERMEDIARIES, PHILANTHROPIC FUNDERS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS, AND NONPROFITS, AMONG OTHERS.WE HAVE ALSO SHAPED CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ACROSS THE SECTOR THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PUBLICATIONS, RESOURCES, EVENTS, AND COMMENTARY PIECES. OUR EXTERNAL WORK DELIVERS TIMELY INSIGHTS ON THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF THE DAY AND HELPS LEADERS, PRACTITIONERS, POLICYMAKERS, NEWS MEDIA REPORTERS, AND FUNDERS UNDERSTAND EMERGING ISSUES AND CHALLENGES AROUND THE CORNER. THIS WORK BOTH INFORMS AND IS INFORMED BY OUR WORK ON THE GROUND WITH PARTNERS WORK THAT DRAMATICALLY EXPANDS OUR REACH AND SETS BELLWETHER APART.IN THE YEARS AHEAD, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP MISSION-DRIVEN PARTNERS ACCELERATE THEIR IMPACT, INFORM AND INFLUENCE POLICY AND PROGRAM DESIGN, AND BRING LEADERS TOGETHER TO DRIVE CHANGE ON EDUCATION'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 March 2008.

    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.