Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Alliance for Decision Education Inc

EIN 46-4064705 · Bala Cynwyd, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE ALLIANCE FOR DECISION EDUCATION IS TO IMPROVE LIVES BY EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND DISPOSITIONS FOR MAKING BETTER DECISIONS.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
44
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$256,055, coo

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 36% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $1.7 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS - FELLOWSHIP: THE DECISION EDUCATION TEACHER FELLOWSHIP BRINGS TOGETHER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS NATIONWIDE TO LEARN AND APPLY DECISION EDUCATION IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. TEACHER FELLOWS CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF DECISION EDUCATION THROUGH ONGOING LEARNING, COLLABORATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR TEACHING APPLIED DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. THEY JOIN A COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS EAGER TO EXPLORE DECISION EDUCATION, CHAMPION ITS INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO STUDYING ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS. INCUBATOR: THE DECISION EDUCATION INCUBATOR PROVIDES A UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN PILOTING DECISION EDUCATION ACROSS AT LEAST ONE GRADE LEVEL. OVER THE COURSE OF 18 MONTHS, THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS SCHOOL TEAMS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE AND SCALABLE INSTRUCTIONAL MODELS WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR STUDENT IMPACT. FORECASTING: THE STUDENT FORECASTING TOURNAMENT IS AN EXCITING, GAMIFIED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE FORECASTING ABOUT REAL-LIFE EVENTS AND IMPROVE THEIR DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT, STUDENTS SUBMIT THEIR OWN FORECASTS ON VARIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT CURRENT, REAL-WORLD EVENTS. EDUCATION PROGRAMS - FELLOWSHIP: THE DECISION EDUCATION TEACHER FELLOWSHIP BRINGS TOGETHER MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS NATIONWIDE TO LEARN AND APPLY DECISION EDUCATION IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. TEACHER FELLOWS CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROWTH OF DECISION EDUCATION THROUGH ONGOING LEARNING, COLLABORATION, AND ADVOCATING FOR TEACHING APPLIED DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. THEY JOIN A COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS EAGER TO EXPLORE DECISION EDUCATION, CHAMPION ITS INTEGRATION IN SCHOOLS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO STUDYING ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS. INCUBATOR: THE DECISION EDUCATION INCUBATOR PROVIDES A UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN PILOTING DECISION EDUCATION ACROSS AT LEAST ONE GRADE LEVEL. OVER THE COURSE OF 18 MONTHS, THE ALLIANCE SUPPORTS SCHOOL TEAMS IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE AND SCALABLE INSTRUCTIONAL MODELS WITH HIGH POTENTIAL FOR STUDENT IMPACT. FORECASTING: THE STUDENT FORECASTING TOURNAMENT IS AN EXCITING, GAMIFIED LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE FORECASTING ABOUT REAL-LIFE EVENTS AND IMPROVE THEIR DECISION-MAKING SKILLS. THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT, STUDENTS SUBMIT THEIR OWN FORECASTS ON VARIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT CURRENT, REAL-WORLD EVENTS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. THE ALLIANCE ACTS AS A FIELD BUILDER (AND CATALYST) TO ALIGN ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH AND INTEGRATE DECISION EDUCATION INTO THE K-12 SYSTEMS OF ALL 50 STATES. WE ARE BUILDING A MOVEMENT OF PARTNERS INCLUDING K-12 EDUCATORS, EDUCATION LEADERS, PARENTS, FUNDERS, BUSINESS LEADERS, RESEARCHERS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS, AT THE SCHOOL, DISTRICT, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
  3. $506,731 spent. RESEARCH PROGRAMS - RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE:THE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF RESEARCHERS WITH A SHARED INTEREST IN DECISION EDUCATION TO DISCUSS RESEARCH FINDINGS, SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES, AND GENERATE NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT DECISION- MAKING IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE. RESEARCH GRANTS: THE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT FUTURE AND EXISTING RESEARCH ON DECISION EDUCATION, AND IS THE LATEST STEP IN ESTABLISHING A ROBUST EVIDENCE BASE AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD. THE GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A COMPONENT OF THE LARGER DE RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS INITIATIVE. THROUGH THE GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, THE ALLIANCE SEEKS TO SEED THE FIELD WITH FUTURE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCHERS AND DEVELOP AN ENGAGED RESEARCHER COMMUNITY. THE ALLIANCE FOR DECISION EDUCATION AIMS TO SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENTS (MASTERS OR DOCTORAL LEVEL) INTERESTED IN THE FIELD OF DECISION EDUCATION. GRADUATE STUDENT AUTHORS OF WINNING PAPERS THAT DEMONSTRATED INSIGHT AND INNOVATION IN THE FIELD OF DECISION EDUCATION RECEIVED A 1500 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. RESEARCH PROGRAMS - RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE:THE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE BRINGS TOGETHER AN INTERDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF RESEARCHERS WITH A SHARED INTEREST IN DECISION EDUCATION TO DISCUSS RESEARCH FINDINGS, SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES, AND GENERATE NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT DECISION- MAKING IN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE. RESEARCH GRANTS: THE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT FUTURE AND EXISTING RESEARCH ON DECISION EDUCATION, AND IS THE LATEST STEP IN ESTABLISHING A ROBUST EVIDENCE BASE AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIELD. THE GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS A COMPONENT OF THE LARGER DE RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS INITIATIVE. THROUGH THE GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, THE ALLIANCE SEEKS TO SEED THE FIELD WITH FUTURE DECISION EDUCATION RESEARCHERS AND DEVELOP AN ENGAGED RESEARCHER COMMUNITY. THE ALLIANCE FOR DECISION EDUCATION AIMS TO SUPPORT GRADUATE STUDENTS (MASTERS OR DOCTORAL LEVEL) INTERESTED IN THE FIELD OF DECISION EDUCATION. GRADUATE STUDENT AUTHORS OF WINNING PAPERS THAT DEMONSTRATED INSIGHT AND INNOVATION IN THE FIELD OF DECISION EDUCATION RECEIVED A 1500 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.
  4. $1.2 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES NOT REFLECTED IN THE ABOVE
  5. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES NOT REFLECTED IN THE ABOVE

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 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 2024.

    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 June 2014.

    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.

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.