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Nicolas Fund for Education

EIN 45-4887611 · Bellevue, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NICOLAS FUND FOR EDUCATION (NFE) PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO RISE OUT OF POVERTY AND TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. NFE IS CREATING A GENERATION OF YOUNG LEADERS WHO CAN HELP BRING ABOUT REAL AND LASTING CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$846,496
Spending
$779,818
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
130

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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, 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 (5)
  1. $572,543 spent. IN 2025, THE SCHOOL HAD 175 STUDENTS. 24 STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM NICOLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S HIGH SCHOOL AND 28 STUDENTS GRADUATED FROM OUR JUNIOR HIGH. SINCE 2015, WE HAVE HAD 152 STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 207 GRADUATE FROM JUNIOR HIGH. NICOLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY RIGOROUS EDUCATION IN CONFORMANCE WITH GUATEMALAN MINISTRY OF EDUCATION STANDARDS. THE NICOLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL PROVIDES SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS FROM THEIR VILLAGE TO THE SCHOOL IN A NEARBY TOWN WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES AWAY AND BACK HOME AGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULED O)THESE STUDENTS LIVE IN A REMOTE AGRICULTURAL REGION IN THE HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA WHERE MOST YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE HIGHER EDUCATION BEYOND THE SIXTH GRADE FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. IN THIS REGION MIRED IN POVERTY, ONLY 5-13% OF THE RURAL POOR GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND LESS THAN 1% ATTEND UNIVERSITY. DUE TO POOR ROAD CONDITIONS, WE ARE OPERATING A SATELLITE SCHOOL IN A REMOTE VILLAGE AND DIGITAL CURRICULUM FROM NICOLAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.
  2. $49,792 spent. SERVICE TEAM TRIPS - EACH YEAR NFE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND ESPECIALLY EDUCATORS TO PARTICIPATE ON SERVICE TEAMS TO GUATEMALA. TEAMS EACH YEAR SHARE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH NFE STUDENTS AND STAFF, AS WELL AS PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE SMALL VILLAGE PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THESE TEAMS IMPACT MEMBERS THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS FORMED WITH STUDENTS AND VILLAGE MEMBERS.
  3. $33,512 spent. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SCHOOL, NEW COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE, AND LIBRARY ENHANCEMENTS.
  4. $26,641 spent. PROVIDING TUTORING AND PRE-K TEACHING IN REMOTE VILLAGES
  5. $13,931 spent. AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATES TO ASSIST WITH FURTHER EDUCATION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.

    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 February 2013.

    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.

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