Passes our checks

Southwestern School Foundation for Educational Excellence

EIN 37-1399520 · Piasa, IL

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

What it says it does

NONE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 57.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
100% 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

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15
Reports no 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$8,113 spent. ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE ENRICHMENT FOR SOUTHWESTERN CUSD'S CURRICULUM THROUGH FUNDING ACTIVITIES PROMOTING HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION ALONG WITH FUNDING FOR MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT THROUGH USE OF MINI-GRANTS
ORGANIZATION WILL SUPPORT INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO BENEFIT AND CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO ATTAIN HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FROM FUNDS GENERATED FROM ANNUAL BANQUET.
$48,500 spent. ORGANIZATION WILL WORK TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIPS WILL PROVIDE A CHALLENGE TO STUDENTS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GIVE THEIR BEST EFFORT IN ALL OF THEIR ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS
ORGANIZATION WILL SPEND FUNDS ON IMPROVEMENT OF ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES OF THE SCHOOL PROPERTIES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2026.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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