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Strada Education Foundation Inc

EIN 47-3044430 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STRADA EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. ("STRADA") DEVELOPS AND SUPPORTS PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE U.S., WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON HELPING THOSE WHO FACE THE GREATEST CHALLENGES SECURING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OR TRAINING. STRADA'S WORK IS GROUNDED IN FIVE FOCUS AREAS: CLEAR OUTCOMES, QUALITY COACHING, AFFORDABILITY, WORK-BASED LEARNING, AND EMPLOYER ALIGNMENT (THE "FOCUS AREAS").

Income
$207.7 million
Spending
$180.5 million
Spent on programs
51%
Reserves
116.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 75%
Employees
1,789
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$1.5 million, ceo & president

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 116.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 128% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    51% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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

    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 (4)
  1. $32.3 million spent. CATALYTIC GRANTMAKING: THROUGH ITS GRANTMAKING, STRADA EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. ("STRADA") PROVIDES CATALYTIC FUNDING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND WORKFORCE AND SKILLS-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS THAT ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S FOCUS AREAS AND CHARITABLE MISSION. IN 2024, STRADA MADE OVER 90 GRANTS ACROSS VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE HBCU INITIATIVE, A $25M, MULTI-YEAR SERIES OF GRANTS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR 450 STUDENTS AT 48 HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  2. $4.4 million spent. ACTIONABLE RESEARCH: STRADA'S ACTIONABLE RESEARCH SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY WITH INSIGHTS INTO WHAT LEARNERS NEED TO REALIZE THEIR CAREER GOALS AND WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO BUILD A ROBUST TALENT PIPELINE. IN 2024, STRADA LAUNCHED THE INAUGURAL STATE OPPORTUNITY INDEX, A PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE RESEARCH REPORT THAT HELPS STATES ASSESS HOW WELL THEY ARE CONNECTING EDUCATION TO OPPORTUNITY ACROSS ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FOCUS AREAS. STRADA'S RESEARCH EFFORTS ALSO INCLUDE THE STRADA INSTITUTE FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK, A PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS AND CONDUCTS RIGOROUS, FIELD-LEADING, PUBLICLY-AVAILABLE RESEARCH TO PROVIDE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND RESPOND TO THE TALENT NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS.
  3. $10.3 million spent. POLICY AND ADVOCACY SOLUTIONS: STRADA ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH POLICYMAKERS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT LEADERS AT STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS TO IDENTIFY AND ADVANCE NONPARTISAN, EVIDENCE-BASED POLICIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL LEARNERS. IN 2024, STRADA RELEASED ITS FIRST-EVER PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA. GROUNDED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S FOCUS AREAS, THE AGENDA PROVIDES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO IMPROVING POLICY SO THAT ALL LEARNERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO COMPLETE AN EDUCATION PATHWAY AND SUCCEED IN A MEANINGFUL CAREER.
  4. $44.3 million spent. STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS: STRADA'S STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS PROGRAM MANAGES A PORTFOLIO OF MISSION-RELATED INVESTMENTS IN EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES AND FUND MANAGERS THAT DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE EDUCATION-WORKFORCE SYSTEM AND ADVANCE THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE MISSION AND FOCUS AREAS.EDUCATION TO OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH CREDLENS, LLC AND STRADA COLLABORATIVE, LLC.

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.