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Rochester Education Foundation Inc

EIN 27-0132133 · Rochester, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ROCHESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LEARNING AND SUCCESS FOR ALL ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
6
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$71,762, executive di

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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 (5)
  1. $543,983 spent. PARTNER PROGRAMS: REF WORKS WITH PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE CITY STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, GROW, AND THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. THROUGH THESE PARTNERSHIPS, REF PROVIDES BACKBONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WHILE ALLOWING PARTNERS TO FOCUS ON THE STUDENTS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS.
  2. $25,054 spent. MUSIC AND ARTS FOR ALL: WITH THE HELP OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, REF HAS DONATED MORE THAN 3,650 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO CLASSROOMS AND TO THE ROC MUSIC PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MUSIC LESSONS AND ARTS CAMPS. WE SUPPORT THE PRIDE OF ROCHESTER MARCHING BAND AND ROC CITY PLAYERS, AS WELL AS MUSICAL CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES. THIS PROGRAM IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS.
  3. $338,287 spent. COLLEGE ACCESS: REF IS THE CONVENER OF THE ROCHESTER COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (RCAN) WHICH INCLUDES RCSD AND CHARTER SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS, PROFESSIONALS FROM LOCAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY OFFICES OF ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID, AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGH OUR AWARD WINNING FAFSA FEST PROGRAM, WE HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FILL OUT THEIR STATE AND FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS. WE ALSO PROVIDE HELP WITH THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS,SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID, AND OFFER WORKSHOPS ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT IN COLLEGE. THIS PROGRAM IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS.
  4. SMILE PROGRAM: THIS IS A TWO-FOLD PROGRAM - SUPPORTING "JUST PLAIN FUN" BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR PARENT/TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS AT K-6 SCHOOLS TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY AND SMILES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AND "LEARNING IS FUN" BY PROVIDING CREATIVE STUDENT EXPERIENCES THAT COMPLEMENT THE K-6 SCIENCE CURRICULUM AND MAKE LEARNING FUN. AT ITS CORE, THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO HELP ROCHESTER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR DAY IN SCHOOL, HAVE FUN WHILE LEARNING, AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF REASONS TO SMILE. LITERACY: GIVE BACK, GIVE BOOKS: WE SUPPORT LITERACY BY PROVIDING BOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS, SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND FOR STUDENTS TO KEEP FOR THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. WE HAVE GIVEN OUT MORE THAN 75,000 NEW AND GENTLY USED BOOKS.
  5. SMILE PROGRAM: THIS IS A TWO-FOLD PROGRAM - SUPPORTING "JUST PLAIN FUN" BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR PARENT/TEACHER ORGANIZATIONS AT K-6 SCHOOLS TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY AND SMILES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AND "LEARNING IS FUN" BY PROVIDING CREATIVE STUDENT EXPERIENCES THAT COMPLEMENT THE K-6 SCIENCE CURRICULUM AND MAKE LEARNING FUN. AT ITS CORE, THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO HELP ROCHESTER'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ENJOY THEIR DAY IN SCHOOL, HAVE FUN WHILE LEARNING, AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF REASONS TO SMILE. LITERACY: GIVE BACK, GIVE BOOKS: WE SUPPORT LITERACY BY PROVIDING BOOKS FOR CLASSROOMS, SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND FOR STUDENTS TO KEEP FOR THEIR HOME LIBRARIES. WE HAVE GIVEN OUT MORE THAN 75,000 NEW AND GENTLY USED BOOKS.

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 October 13, 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 December 2005.

    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 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.