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Promys Foundation

EIN 45-2917981 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ALL ACTIVITIES OF THE PROMYS FOUNDATION ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE A SINGLE PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE NON-PROFIT PROGRAM IN MATHEMATICS FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS (PROMYS) WHOSE MISSION IS FINDING AND NURTURING TALENT IN MATHEMATICS. THE PROMYS PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY, AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) AND SECTION 170(B)(I)(A)(II). THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PROMYS FOUNDATION WILL CENTER ON FUNDRAISING WITH THE PRIMARY GOAL BEING TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO PROMYS TO FUND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$540,886
Spending
$948,804
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
19.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
24

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 75% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $938,054 spent. THE PROMYS FOUNDATION WAS DELIGHTED TO FUND $905,748 IN MISSION-RELATED ACTIVITIES IN 2024 INCLUDING SUPPORTING NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID FOR 24 STUDENTS AT PROMYS 2024. THIRTEEN FULL SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED INCLUDING THE BREAKOUT FELLOWSHIP AND JANE STREET FELLOWSHIPS. 38% OF ALL FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS IN 2024 HAD FAMILY INCOMES UNDER $41,000 A YEAR. EIGHTY-TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, 23 UNDERGRADUATE COUNSELORS, AND 2 JUNIOR COUNSELORS PARTICIPATED IN PROMYS 2024 ON THE CAMPUS OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY. THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE POLYNERA FUND AND JANE STREET, PROMYS FOUNDATION HELPED FUND PROMYS PATHWAYS AND PROMYS FOR TEACHERS, BOTH RUN AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY.PROMYS WAS EXCITED TO RUN THE 2ND SUMMER OF PROMYS INDIA IN 2024 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE (IISC) BANGALORE. TWENTY-EIGHT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND NINE COUNSELORS PARTICIPATED. PROMYS INDIA 2024 WAS FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS THANKS TO GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AND DONORS. THE FOUNDING SPONSORS OF PROMYS INDIA ARE NICK NASH & PHALGUN RAJU, AVI AND SANDRA NASH, AND THE INDIRA FOUNDATION. WE ARE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY OF THE PACKARD FOUNDATION, JANE STREET, AND SQUAREPOINT 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

  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 December 2024.

    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 September 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 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.