Moorhead Area Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To support and promote educational programs in Independent School District 152 and provide scholarships and financial aid for post secondary education.
- Income
- $367,977
- Spending
- $271,995
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 84.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $12,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 84.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 51% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $204,836 spent. The Moorhead Legacy Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that enhances the educational experience and activities of all students in the Moorhead Area Public Schools. Our programs include the following: Food for Thought, providing milk and snack for students in need; Spud Scholars, providing scholarships for graduating MHS students to further their education; Spud Impact Grants, providing funding for innovative classroom projects and other education activities; and Spud History, preserving the history of Moorhead Schools in our community.Spud Scholars - Since 1991, Spud Scholars has awarded over $2 Million in scholarships to 2,600+ Moorhead High graduates. These scholarships help ensure Spuds can pursue their goal of a college education. Scholarships are based on both need and merit.Food for Thought - MLEF is dedicated to supporting our Moorhead Schools. We provide milk and snack to students in need so they can learn at their greatest potential. $20 feeds one student for one month.Spuds TV MLEF, the Moorhead Area Public Schools and Spuds TV have joined in partnership for sponsor dollars that will help fund special projects for Moorhead Schools, including the district calendar. MLEF successfully sold Spud History Books, a 150-year summary of Moorhead Area Public Schools. Proceeds were designated to unrestricted income.Spud Impact - Spud Impact Grants fuel teacher and staff innovation projects and classroom activities that provide a rich and meaningful educational experience for students.Spud Impact - With a history spanning more than 140 years, the story of Moorhead Area Public Schools is detailed on a 50-foot-long historical timeline in the lobby of Horizon Middle School's Performing Arts Center. The history wall project was a joint program between Moorhead Area Public Schools and the Moorhead Schools Legacy Foundation.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 September 1991.
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.
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.