Innovation Fund America Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
INNOVATION FUND AMERICA IS A NONPROFIT PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF TECHNOLOGY STARTUPS THROUGH EARLY-STAGE FUNDING AND EDUCATION.
- Income
- $50,000
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 100%
- Reserves
- -49.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 50%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $15,583, treasurer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 10941% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3486% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (1)
- $1.8 million spent. INNOVATION FUND AMERICA INC. ("IFA INC.") ASPIRES TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS, COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION, RELIEVE POVERTY, AND LESSEN THE BURDENS OF THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH STIMULATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SELECT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ("IFA COMMUNITIES"). IT ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH CREATING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CLIMATE THAT FOSTERS, CREATES AND EXPANDS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT AND EDUCATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURS WORKING WITH RELATED ENTERPRISES WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES. IFA INC. PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN THE FUNDING OF AND UNDERTAKING ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISES IN IFA COMMUNITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. IFA INC. PROVIDES APPROPRIATE COUNSEL OR ASSISTANCE IN ADVISORY SERVICES WHICH WILL PROMOTE AND NURTURE THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES AND CAPACITY IN IFA COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF IFA COMMUNITIES BY SERVING AS A NATIONAL LEADER FOR INNOVATION, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING IN ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on December 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2015.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.