I Car Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE I-CAR EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SCHOOLS, AND STUDENTS TO CREATE QUALIFIED, ENTRY-LEVEL EMPLOYEES AND CONNECT THEM WITH AN ARRAY OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $14.7 million
- Spending
- $13.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $174,447, executive 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $12.8 million spent. THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS ENROLLED IN CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON COLLISION REPAIR BY OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS THAT CAN TRANSFORM THEIR FUTURES. AWARDED ACCORDING TO THE SCHOLARSHIP DISTRIBUTION POLICY, THESE SCHOLARSHIPS HELP COVER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES LIKE TUITION, TOOLS, AND BOOKS, PAVING THE WAY FOR SUCCESS IN THIS VITAL INDUSTRY.SCHOOL BENCHMARK AWARD PROGRAM: THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS THE SCHOOL BENCHMARK AWARD PROGRAM TO ASSIST COLLISION REPAIR SCHOOLS. THESE AWARDS PROVIDE DIRECT FUNDING TO CTE COLLISION PROGRAMS, ENABLING THEM TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO STAY CURRENT WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ALLOCATES MARKETING FUNDS TO HELP PUBLICLY FUNDED SCHOOLS INCREASE ENROLLMENT AND DEVELOP EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENTS WITH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.IN-KIND DONATION PROGRAM- THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROVIDES IN-KIND DONATIONS FROM INDUSTRY PARTNERS TO HELP SCHOOLS OPTIMIZE THEIR BUDGETS. THESE DONATIONS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, VEHICLES, SOFTWARE LICENSES, AND SMALL TO MID-SIZED TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR BOTH BODY REPAIR AND REFINISHING. BY SUPPLYING THESE ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, THE FOUNDATION ENSURES THAT SCHOOLS HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, AND MATERIALS FOR EFFECTIVE TRAINING IN THE COLLISION REPAIR TRADE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS LAUNCHED A NEW ONLINE DONATION PLATFORM TO CONNECT DONORS WITH COLLISION REPAIR PROGRAMS FOR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.
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 2025.
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 1991.
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.