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Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation

EIN 45-0676449 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CDE Foundation works as a trusted partner with state education leaders and entities to create, resource, and implement solutions that result in a strong and valued public education system that serves every student in California.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$8.4 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
22
Highest pay
$200,649, ceo

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

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (6)
  1. $3.6 million spent. Educator Workforce Investment Grant for Computer Science (EWIG): Our STEAM Initiatives team is a partner with UCLA, Sacramento County Office of Education and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools in supporting the State EWIG program for computer Science. We support the implementation of the Seasons of CS professional learning effort, a research-backed professional learning program for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and counselors working in California public schools. Seasons of CS offers regional and statewide multi-day in-person and virtual workshops to bring accessible, equitable computer science education practices to California educators. Participants are given tools, training and a network of support including stipends for participation.
  2. $1.7 million spent. Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation serves as a fiscal manager for the California Department of Education (CDE) and provides fiscal oversight and grants management for a large number of grants. The primary programs CDE Foundation supported as a fiscal manager during FYE 6.30.25 include Blue Shield of CA funded Youth Mental Health programs, Gates Foundation funded Cradle to Career data support, Math Framework and Career Pathways initiatives, Sobrato Foundation funded Multilingual support, College Futures Foundation funded Dual Enrollment initiative, among others.
  3. $842,989 spent. The Residency Lab - The Residency Lab connects and strengthens university and school district partners who are preparing effective teachers through high-quality clinical experiences. Lab participants learn from one another and from experts, strengthen their intra program partnerships and residency programs, and engage in formal and informal networking to support continuous improvement. The Lab is designed to help partners accelerate the progress of their respective programs while collectively advancing a vision for high-quality residences that incorporate research-based characteristics. During fiscal year 2025, the Lab conducted various webinars and events on a variety of topics to support the Teacher Residencies. In addition, the Lab is the primary technical assistance provider to the State Residency Technical Assistance Center based at the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
  4. $815,722 spent. Other Programs include the CA STEAM Initiatives, which includes the CA STEAM Symposium that brings together thousands of teachers, administrators, students, higher education representatives, program providers, philanthropic representatives, and industry representatives to engage them in STEM/STEAM education by providing strategies and resources for program implementation and peer led learning.
  5. $398,325 spent. California Family and Community engagement Initiative:The California Family and Community Engagement Initiative (CA FACE), is committed to statewide leadership, guidance, and support in promoting family and community engagement empowering educators, county offices of education, local education agencies, and families to build strong two-way home-school partnerships.We accomplish this in three key ways. 1) Increase awareness of family engagement resources and best practices to empower Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and County Offices of Education (COEs) to foster positive home/school partnerships that bolster student outcomes. 2) Advocate for culturally responsive family engagement policies and practices at the local, county, and state levels. 3) Expand access to evidence-based family engagement resources, support, and promising practices for and from LEAs, COEs, and Statewide Family Engagement Partner organizations.
  6. $384,604 spent. The Labor Management Initiative (CA LMI): CA LMI engages labor-management teams in exploring research and best practices to build enduring cross-sector union-management partnerships in California public schools. Since 2015 the CA LMI has convened over 170 district and county labor management teams across California to advance collaboration and continuous improvement through peer learning networks and training. CA LMI holds an annual Summer Institute as well as various convenings and events throughout the state where district and County Office labor-management teams learn together, discuss, collaborate and plan.

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 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 June 2011.

    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.

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.