Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Lincoln-Way High School Foundation for Educational Excellence Inc

EIN 36-3986393 · New Lenox, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO ACQUIRE AND DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES TO LINCOLN-WAY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 210 IN ORDER TO ENRICH AND ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES OF THE STUDENTS SERVED BY THE DISTRICT.

Income
$180,448
Spending
$197,317
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 61%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$62,050, executive di

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

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 58 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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. $140,790 spent. TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAMS OF LINCOLN-WAY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 210 STUDENTS AND TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DISTRICT-APPROVED STUDENTS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO FOR VARIOUS ITEMS REQUESTED BY THE TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR 34 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS OF DISTRICT 210.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 April 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 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.