Elkhart Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 12% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ELKHART EDUCATION FOUNDATION IGNITES THE POWER OF COMMUNITY, CONNECTS GENEROUS HEARTS WITH EDUCATION, AND PROVIDES THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR EVERY CHILD TO EXCEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
- Income
- $153,374
- Spending
- $190,129
- Spent on programs
- 12%
- Reserves
- 7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $80,900, executive director
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 412% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1512% 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. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (education, 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
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $22,907 spent. SCHOOLHOUSE SUPPLY STORE: ELKHART COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (ECS) TEACHERS HISTORY AND THROUGH HANDS-ON, PROJECT BASED LESSONS. NUMBER OF PERSONS BENEFITED: 120 UNIQUE STUDENTS OVER 6 WEEKS.REPORT SPENDING OVER $1,000 A YEAR OF THEIR OWN MONEY ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR THEIR STUDENTS. REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, ALL STUDENTS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM. WE MUST LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES TO THRIVE. EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES START WITH HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS. THE ELKHART EDUCATION FOUNDATION (EEF) STOCKS AND MAINTAINS A SCHOOLHOUSE SUPPLY "STORE" FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS ATTENDING ECS. FROM AUGUST THROUGH APRIL, ECS ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, PARAS, COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND BUS DRIVERS HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THAT WILL HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
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 June 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 September 2014.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.