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Future Problem Solving Program International Inc

EIN 42-1234706 · Indialantic, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING PROUDLY CELEBRATES MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF PLACING CLOSE TO A MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE CORE OF A DYNAMIC, PURPOSEFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. EACH YEAR K-12 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES DESIGNED TO EMPOWER CURIOUS YOUTH TO BECOME CHANGEMAKERS. PROBLEM SOLVERS LEARN HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK, AND GAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN WORK AND LIFE. OUR PROGRAMS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND FOSTER STUDENT VOICES. FOUNDED BY DR. TORRANCE IN 1974, OUR PROGRAM INTEGRATES THE SIX-STEP CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS BY ALEX OSBORN AND SIDNEY PARNES WITH HIGH-INTEREST, FUTURISTIC TOPICS. WE OFFER FOUR ANNUAL PROGRAMS FOR BOTH TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS. GLOBAL ISSUES: STUDENTS BECOME MINI-EXPERTS AND PREDICT POSSIBILITIES FOR THE FUTURE. COMMUNITY PROJECTS: STUDENTS LEARN TO TURN INTERESTS INTO ACTION AND CREATE LASTING CHANGE. CREATIVE WRITING: STUDENTS WRITE A CREATIVE, FUTURISTIC SCENARIO BASED ON A COMPETITION TOPIC. STORYTELLING: S

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
9
Volunteers
163
Highest pay
$126,188, 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: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (3)
  1. $899,426 spent. FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING IGNITES CURIOSITY ABOUT REAL-WORLD ISSUES AND EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ESSENTIAL, COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL, CAREERS, AND LIFE. THROUGH DYNAMIC ACADEMIC CHALLENGES, FPS EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BECOME CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKERS WHO ENVISION, AND TAKE ACTION TOWARD, A BETTER FUTURE. OUR ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SHOWCASES THIS MISSION IN ACTION. THE EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO COLLABORATE, INNOVATE, AND COMPETE AT THE WORLD FINALS. THIS EVENT CLEBRATES CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING, TEAMWORK, AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP. IN 2025, THE CONFERENCE HOSTED 2,340 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 262 SCHOOLS ACROSS 11 COUNTRIES. POST-EVENT EVALUATIONS REFLECTED OUTSTANDING IMPACT - 95% OF ATTENDEES AGREED THAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS TRULY UNIQUE AND UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING IGNITES CURIOSITY ABOUT REAL-WORLD ISSUES AND EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ESSENTIAL, COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL, CAREERS, AND LIFE. THROUGH DYNAMIC ACADEMIC CHALLENGES, FPS EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO BECOME CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKERS WHO ENVISION, AND TAKE ACTION TOWARD, A BETTER FUTURE. OUR ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SHOWCASES THIS MISSION IN ACTION. THE EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO COLLABORATE, INNOVATE, AND COMPETE AT THE WORLD FINALS. THIS EVENT CLEBRATES CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING, TEAMWORK, AND GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP. IN 2025, THE CONFERENCE HOSTED 2,340 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING 262 SCHOOLS ACROSS 11 COUNTRIES. POST-EVENT EVALUATIONS REFLECTED OUTSTANDING IMPACT - 95% OF ATTENDEES AGREED THAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS TRULY UNIQUE AND UNAVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE.
  2. $1,049 spent. THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEARNING IS BUILT ON MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND FIELD EXPERIENCE WORLDWIDE. A WIDE VARIETY OF OFFERINGS INCLUDE HIGH-QUALITY WEB-BASED AND PRINT RESOURCES, E-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, WORKSHOPS, AND CONSULTING SERVICES ON CREATIVITY AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING. OUR WORK FOCUSES ON METHODS AND TOOLS FOR GENERATING IDEAS ("CREATIVE THINKING"), FOCUSING IDEAS ("CRITICAL THINKING"), AND SYSTEMATIC APPROACHES TO DEFINING AND SOLVING COMPLEX, OPEN-ENDED, REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS (CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, VERSION 6.1).
  3. $561,940 spent. OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ARE TRANSFORMATIVE, EQUIPPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION, AND DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE. WE SPARK CURIOSITY ABOUT REAL-WORLD ISSUES, DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL, CAREERS, AND LIFE. IN AN AGE DEFINED BY AI, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO THINK AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING ADDRESSES TODAY'S UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES WITH STANDARDS-BASED PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS WHEREVER THEY LEARN, TEACHING THEM HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK. OUR RUBRIC-BASED EVALUATIONS PROVIDE VALUABLE, LEARNER-CENTERED FEEDBACK, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THROUGH AUTHENTIC, SKILL-BASED ASSESSMENTS FROM CERTIFIED EVALUATORS ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS EACH YEAR. OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES ARE TRANSFORMATIVE, EQUIPPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION, AND DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE. WE SPARK CURIOSITY ABOUT REAL-WORLD ISSUES, DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO EXCEL IN SCHOOL, CAREERS, AND LIFE. IN AN AGE DEFINED BY AI, IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO THINK AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING ADDRESSES TODAY'S UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES WITH STANDARDS-BASED PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS WHEREVER THEY LEARN, TEACHING THEM HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK. OUR RUBRIC-BASED EVALUATIONS PROVIDE VALUABLE, LEARNER-CENTERED FEEDBACK, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THROUGH AUTHENTIC, SKILL-BASED ASSESSMENTS FROM CERTIFIED EVALUATORS ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS EACH YEAR.

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 November 6, 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 2025.

    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 February 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.