Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

South St Paul Educational Foundation

EIN 41-1494597 · South St Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH ST. PAUL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION IS TO BRIDGE STUDENTS AND DONORS TO ENRICH LEARNING AND IMPACT THE LIVES OF SOUTH ST. PAUL SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPLEMENTAL CLASSROOM PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF OUR GENEROUS DONORS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$984,941
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
40.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 59%
Employees
4
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$91,875, exec directo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.9 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 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $759,160 spent. THE SOUTH ST. PAUL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (SSPEF) HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-45. ON MAY 14TH THE SSPEF AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING 617,250 TO 141 SOUTH ST. PAUL GRADUATING SENIORS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS ATTENDING 4-YEAR, 2-YEAR, AND TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS. SSPEF ALSO PROVIDED PROGRAM FUNDING FOR CLASSROOM ENRICHMENT TOTALING 85,873.04. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED FUNDING MATH IXL SUBSCRIPTIONS, A LU INTERACTIVE PLAY AND LEARN FOR PHY-ED CLASSES, YOUTH FRONTIER COURAGE AND KINDNESS RETREATS, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ELEMENTARY BAND PROGRAM, OZOBOTS (ROBOT CODING), BLOXELS (VIDEO GAME DESIGN), FRENCH/SPANISH RETREAT, YOUNG AUTHORS CONFERENCE, LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR STUDENT LEADERS AND CAPTAINS, ONE ACT PLAY SCRIPTS, AND NATURE, HISTORY AND ART-BASED FIELD TRIPS. THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL WALKATHON WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER WITH STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING. THE WALKATHON FUNDS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IN TEACHER'S CLASSROOMS. THESE MONIES ARE CRITICAL IN PROVIDING ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS OF SOUTH ST. PAUL. THE SOUTH ST. PAUL EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (SSPEF) HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-45. ON MAY 14TH THE SSPEF AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING 617,250 TO 141 SOUTH ST. PAUL GRADUATING SENIORS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND WERE GIVEN TO STUDENTS ATTENDING 4-YEAR, 2-YEAR, AND TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS. SSPEF ALSO PROVIDED PROGRAM FUNDING FOR CLASSROOM ENRICHMENT TOTALING 85,873.04. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDED FUNDING MATH IXL SUBSCRIPTIONS, A LU INTERACTIVE PLAY AND LEARN FOR PHY-ED CLASSES, YOUTH FRONTIER COURAGE AND KINDNESS RETREATS, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, BAND INSTRUMENTS FOR THE ELEMENTARY BAND PROGRAM, OZOBOTS (ROBOT CODING), BLOXELS (VIDEO GAME DESIGN), FRENCH/SPANISH RETREAT, YOUNG AUTHORS CONFERENCE, LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR STUDENT LEADERS AND CAPTAINS, ONE ACT PLAY SCRIPTS, AND NATURE, HISTORY AND ART-BASED FIELD TRIPS. THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL WALKATHON WAS HELD IN SEPTEMBER WITH STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING. THE WALKATHON FUNDS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES IN TEACHER'S CLASSROOMS. THESE MONIES ARE CRITICAL IN PROVIDING ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS OF SOUTH ST. PAUL.

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 2026.

    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 October 1984.

    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.