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Passes our checks

Barat Education Foundation

EIN 36-4407543 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak0 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

BARAT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO CONTINUE THE VALUES AND GROUND-BREAKING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF BARAT COLLEGE.THE BARAT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WORKED WITH A TEAM OF EDUCATORS ANDTECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS TO DEVELOP OUR AMERICAN VOICE A 21ST CENTURY MEDIA-RICH MODEL TO TEACH CIVIC LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLESCHOOL STUDENTS. THIS TEACHER-FRIENDLY, IN SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL CURRICULUMIS INTEGRATED WITH INNOVATIVE USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY THAT COMBINES PROVEN TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM APPROACHES, CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND THE ARTSTO EDUCATE, ENGAGE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS TO BE PARTICIPATIVE CITIZENS IN THEIRCOMMUNITIES AND THEIR COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN 26 COMMUNITIESACROSS ILLINOIS WITH MORE THAN 1,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN 2023/24.

Income
$52,959
Spending
$69,969
Spent on programs
42%
Reserves
-4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$3,000, treasurer

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

Weak: 0 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 116% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    42% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $18,657 spent. The Foundation developed and administers a program titled Our American Voice@ which is a project based learning initiative that links the basics of American history, government and civics with digital age technology and community involvement to educate, engage and empower middle-grade students to be participative citizens in their communities and make reasoned commitments to the core democratic values of the United States .Since 2009 when the program was established, OAV has been delivered by over 200 educators and after-school partners to more than 7,500 students. It is being implemented in 22 schools across IL for the 2023-2024 year. The students are diverse and 90% of them come from socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
  2. $10,695 spent. The Foundation has been a partner in the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources since 2007 and supports education programs, scholarships andcharitable contributions reflecting the traditions of Barat College that wasmerged into DePaul University in 2001.
  3. BARAT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION HAS BEEN A KEY PARTNER OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESSTEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES CONSORTIUM SINCE 2004.BARAT HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 7,500 TEACHERS IN THE USEOF THE LIBRARY'S RESOURCES AND IMPACTED OVER 500,000 STUDENTS.IN ADDITION, BARAT EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY SOURCE NEXUS WEBSITE IS ACCESSED BY EDUCATORS NATIONALLY AND IN 28 COUNTRIES.IN 2016,THE FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED A GRANT BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO DEVELOP A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM CALLED CITIZEN U (REGISTERED TRADEMARK) FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING TEACHERS ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES TO BECOME AGENTS OF CIVICENGAGEMENT. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CURRICULUM OF CITIZEN U IS THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS RESOURCES WHICH SERVE AS A CONNECTION BETWEEN CIVIC LEARNING AND CONTENT LEARNING USING PRIMARY SOURCES. CITIZEN U CURRICULUM IS CURRENTLY COMPRISED OF 200 LESSONS FOR GRADES 4-12 ACROSS THE CURRICULUM. THE INITIAL 31 LESSONS IN2018 WERE PILOT TESTED WITH MORE THAN 200 TEACHERS FROM 78 SCHOOLS IN 15 STATESWITH A TOTAL OF 4,680 STUDENTS. THE CITIZEN U LESSONS HAVE BEEN POSTED ON-LINE. IN 2019, THEY ARE BEING ROLLED OUT NATIONALLY. IT IS PROJECTED THAT 1,000 TEACHERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL USE THESE LESSONS.OUR LAST CURRENT CORNERSTONE PROGRAM IS THE CIVICS EDUCATOR MICRO-CREDENTIAL.

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 February 2001.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.