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Ecmc Foundation

EIN 41-1990628 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECMC FOUNDATION IS A NATIONALLY FOCUSED FOUNDATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR CAREER SUCCESS AMONG UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED INNOVATION.

Income
$82.6 million
Spending
$76.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
29
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.5 million, president & ceo, ecmc group

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 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 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 (3)
  1. $62.6 million spent. STRATEGIC GRANTMAKING:GUIDED BY ECMC FOUNDATION'S STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK, COMMITMENT TO SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND NORTH STAR GOAL, THE FOUNDATION LEVERAGES TWO MAIN GRANTMAKING STRATEGIES-INITIATIVES AND STRATEGICALLY RESPONSIVE-BOTH OF WHICH CONTAIN SEVERAL PORTFOLIOS. INITIATIVES ARE FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING STUDENTS' BASIC NEEDS, ELEVATING CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, IMPROVING THE IMPACT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AMONG UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, AND STRENGTHENING TRANSFER PATHWAYS AND CREDIT MOBILITY. EACH INITIATIVE HAS A THEORY OF ACTION AND LEARNING AND EVALUATION FRAMEWORK AND IS GUIDED BY ALIGNED ACTIVITIES, ARTICULATED TIMEFRAMES AND EARMARKED BUDGETS. THROUGH A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO OF GRANTS SUPPORTING MULTIPLE POPULATIONS, GEOGRAPHIES AND INTERVENTIONS, THE STRATEGICALLY RESPONSIVE STRATEGY ENABLES ECMC FOUNDATION TO LISTEN TO THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IDENTIFIED BY APPLICANTS, GRANTEES, PEER FUNDERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS; LEARN ABOUT EMERGING TRENDS; AND LEVERAGE FOUNDATION RESOURCES TO ADVANCE THE POSTSECONDARY FIELD. IN 2024, ECMC FOUNDATION AWARDED 71 STRATEGICALLY RESPONSIVE GRANTS AND 65 INITIATIVE GRANTS.
  2. $5.1 million spent. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT:ECMC FOUNDATION FACILITATES TWO MAIN OPPORTUNITIES-A GENERATING OUTCOMES (GO!) PROGRAM AND A DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM-FOR STAFF AND LEADERSHIP ACROSS ECMC GROUP TO FEEL CONNECTED TO ECMC FOUNDATION'S PHILANTHROPIC MISSION. THE GO! PROGRAM IS A CORPORATE INITIATIVE TO FUND EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE ECMC GROUP, INC. EMPLOYEES LIVE AND WORK. IN 2024, ECMC FOUNDATION AWARDED GRANTS RANGING FROM $5,000 TO $20,000 EACH TO 111 ORGANIZATIONS FOR A TOTAL OF OVER $1 MILLION. THE DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ECMC GROUP EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR LEADERS, AND FOUNDATION STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT A GIFT TO AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THEIR CHOICE.
  3. $1.2 million spent. EDUCATION INNOVATION VENTURES:EDUCATION INNOVATION VENTURES (EIV) MAKES BELOW-MARKET-RATE INVESTMENTS INTO NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT VENTURES THAT SEEK TO GENERATE BOTH SOCIAL IMPACT AND FINANCIAL RETURNS. COMPLEMENTING ECMC FOUNDATION'S STRATEGIC GRANTMAKING, THE EIV PROGRAM USES A FULL SPECTRUM OF PROGRAM-RELATED INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING DEBT AND EQUITY INSTRUMENTS, TO PROVIDE CATALYTIC RISK CAPITAL TO EARLY-STAGE VENTURES WORKING TO INCREASE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY AMONG LEARNERS AND JOBSEEKERS FROM SYSTEMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS. FINANCIAL RETURNS ARE REINVESTED INTO ADDITIONAL PROGRAM-RELATED INVESTMENTS, ALLOWING ECMC FOUNDATION TO RECYCLE INVESTMENT DOLLARS TO FUND FURTHER IMPACT INITIATIVES. IN 2024, EIV INVESTED OVER $4.1 MILLION ACROSS 9 INVESTMENTS WORKING TO REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR STUDENTS, AND AWARDED 3 GRANTS.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.