Rockford Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 30% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ROCKFORD EDUCATION FOUNDATION (REF) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1991 TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR INCREASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE ROCKFORD COMMUNITY. THE REF IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, GOVERNED BY A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM THE COMMUNITY. TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS FOR WIDE-RANGING, EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. LARGE & MINI GRANTS ARE AWARDED TWICE ANNUALLY BASED ON THE MERIT OF THE REQUEST AND ITS ABILITY TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE. COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS ARE REVIEWED AT TIME OF SUBMISSION AND DETERMINED CASE BY CASE, WHEREAS STUDENT GRANTS CAN BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED DURING THE MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS. THE REF IS PROUD TO AWARD EDUCATIONAL GRANTS TO THE ROCKFORD COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $338,555
- Spending
- $251,152
- Spent on programs
- 30%
- Reserves
- 58.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 18
- Highest pay
- $69,435, 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 58.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 44% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1530% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $74,958 spent. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE OF THE ROCKFORD EDUCATION FOUNDATION (REF) IS TO AWARD GRANTS TO EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE MISSION TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS LEARNERS OF ALL AGES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD (PRE-SCHOOL) THROUGH AFTER RETIREMENT WITH THE AWARDING OF GRANTS FOR PROGRAMMING TARGETING THE AGING ADULT COMMUNITY. THE REF AWARDS GRANTS TO THE ROCKFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ROCKFORD.
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
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 June 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 April 1992.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Food for Education Foundation Inc (Dover, DE), EIN 88-0664918. 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.