Founding Fourteen
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
THE MISSION OF FULTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (FAST) IS TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION BASED ON DESIGN THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) TO K-8 CHILDREN IN THE DIVERSE FULTON COUNTY COMMUNITY. FAST'S GOAL IS TO PREPARE CHILDREN IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES THEM A FOUNDATION TO BE CREATIVE INNOVATORS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS SO THEY ARE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. WITH THE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR EXISTING COMMUNITY SERVING AS THE BACKGROUND THEME FOR ACADEMICS, CHILDREN WILL DEVELOP THE FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING AND THINKING THAT PREPARES THEM FOR SUCCESS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND CAREERS.
- Income
- $8.7 million
- Spending
- $8.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 112% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (2)
- $6.4 million spent. PROVIDE AN EDUCATION BASED ON DESIGN THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) TO K-8 CHILDREN IN THE DIVERSE FULTON COUNTY COMMUNITY AND PREPARE CHILDREN IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES THEM A FOUNDATION TO BE CREATIVE INNOVATORS AND PROBLEM SOLVERS SO THEY ARE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.
- $140,282 spent. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES AFTERCARE FOR STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.