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Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

EIN 47-3001109 · Dover, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DELAWARE RESTAURANT FOUNDATION IMPROVES THE RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THROUGH EDUCATION. IT SERVES THE CURRENT AND FUTURE HOSPITALITY WORKFORCE BY DEVELOPING CURRICULUM AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN BOTH CURRENT INDUSTRY WORKERS AND HELPS TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOSPITALITY LEADERS.

Income
$742,219
Spending
$655,551
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$220,164, president & ceo

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: 86 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $277,187 spent. PROSTART PROGRAM - THIS COMPREHENSIVE, CAREER-BUILDING PROGRAM BLENDS INDUSTRY-DRIVEN CLASSROOM LEARNING WITH MENTORED WORK EXPERIENCE. GIVING A "PROFESSIONAL START" TO STUDENTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN TRADITIONAL CAREER PATHS. IT FOCUSES ON YOUTH AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY. THERE ARE BOTH A STATE AND NATIONAL PROSTART COMPETITION AT WHICH TEAMS FACE OFF IN MANAGEMENT AND CULINARY COMPETITIONS WITH WINNERS RECEIVING HONORS AND SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024, THERE WERE ABOUT 6,000 PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $125,676 spent. FOOD SAFETY AND HANDLING TRAINING - DELAWARE REQUIRES THE PERSON-IN-CHARGE AT A RESTAURANT TO DEMONSTRATE FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS THE SERVSAFE CERTIFICATION COURSE TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS RELATED ORGANIZATION, THE DELAWARE RESTAUARANT ASSOCIATION. IN 2024, THERE WERE 839 ATTENDEES.
  3. STUDENT TRAINING - THE ORGANIZATION HAS A FOCUS ON INFORMING AND INSPIRING DELAWARE'S YOUTH ON THE OPPORTUNITIES AWAITING IN THE FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY. THE "STEPS TO SUCCESS" CONFERENCE IS DESIGNED FOR FUTURE LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY. THE EVENT WAS CANCELLED IN 2021 DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS AND HAS NOT RESTARTED AS OF 2024.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.