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Propel Education

EIN 47-4045034 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROPEL EDUCATION (D/B/A "ED FARM") EQUIPS EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMMUNITIES WITH INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. PROPEL HAS A MISSION TO PROVIDE HBCU STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TOOLS AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO TRANSFORM OUR NATION'S TALENT PIPELINE AND WORKFORCE. ED FARM PROVIDES PLACE-BASED AND VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, RESOURCES, TECHNOLOGY AND WORKFORCE READINESS TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES. PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED FOR K-12 EDUCATORS & STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF, UN- OR UNDER-EMPLOYED ADULT LEARNERS, AS WELL AS EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS. PROPEL CONNECTS HBCU STUDENTS WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$12.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
102
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$328,427, president, propel center

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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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 (3)
  1. $3.6 million spent. K-12 EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT: TEACHER FELLOWS PROGRAM: SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERS AND ADMINISTRATORS PARTNER WITH ED FARM TO IDENTIFY EDUCATORS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING. THESE EDUCATORS FORM AN ANNUAL COHORT KNOWN AS "TEACHER FELLOWSED FARM EQUIPS THEM WITH INNOVATIVE RESOURCES AND TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. TEACHER FELLOWS ALSO COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR OTHER TEACHERS IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS. STUDENT FELLOWS PROGRAM: MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN YEAR-LONG, CHALLENGE-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES DESIGNED TO SOLVE REAL COMMUNITY PROBLEMS. AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH EXPERIENCE, COMMUNITY LEADERS IDENTIFY A CHALLENGE AND INVITE STUDENT FELLOWS TO SOLVE IT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO INVESTIGATE THE CHALLENGE, BUILD DIGITAL SKILLS AND CREATE ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS. STUDENT FELLOWS PRESENT THEIR SOLUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SPACES: TRANSFORM TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS INTO TECHNOLOGICAL HUBS FOR THE EDUCATION AND EXPLORATION OF K-12 STUDENTS.
  2. $152,694 spent. COMMUNITY DIGITAL SKILLS GRANTS: FUNDS 'KIDS CODING'BIRMINGHAM CAN CODE' PROGRAMS WHICH ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE AND IGNITE CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO DISCOVER AND EXPLORE TECHNOLOGY, LEARN TO CODE AND PURSUE STEM CAREERS. GRANTS SERVE TO HELP ED FARM ACHIEVE ITS GOALS OF EXPANDING THE REGION'S TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM. PATHWAYS: FREE COURSES FOR ADULT LEARNERS THAT TEACHES DIGITAL SKILLS, APP CODING, EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT.
  3. $6.2 million spent. PROPEL: PROPEL CENTER PROVIDES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) WITH SHARED SERVICES TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK OF PREPARING LEADERS WHO IMPROVE OUR WORLD. VIA DIGITAL LEARNING TOOLS, STUDENTS FROM HBCUS WILL CONNECT WITH THE BRIGHTEST MINDS IN THE WORLD, BE GIVEN GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOP INTO CIVIC-MINDED LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS. A PHSYICAL CAMPUS IS IN THE PLANNING PHASES TO HELP CONTINUE THE CENTER'S MISSION.

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

  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 October 13, 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 June 2025.

    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 June 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 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.