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Madera Elementary Foundation

EIN 47-5658402 · El Cerrito, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PARENT VOLUNTEER BOARD TO FUNDRAISE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AT MADERA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Income
$213,156
Spending
$202,267
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (12)
  1. $51,880 spent. MADERA ELEMENTARYS SCHOOL GARDEN BEGAN IN 2007 WITH A LOT OFBACKBREAKING LABOR AND A SHARED VISION OF HOW A GARDEN COULD IMPACTSTUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL CYCLES AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION.SINCE THEN IT HAS GROWN THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS STAFF,AND FAMILIES. THE GARDEN CURRENTLY FOCUSES ON GROWING CROPS FOR THESTUDENTS TO STUDY TAKE CARE OF AND ULTIMATELY CONSUME. OVER THEYEARS WE HAVE PLANTED FRUIT TREES BERRY VINES HERBS FLOWERINGPLANTS AND ALL MANNER OF VEGETABLES.ALL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM THAT THE DISTRICT DOES NOT FUND. THIS IS FOR THE INSTRUCTORS COMPENSATION AND SUPPLIES.
  2. $45,735 spent. MUSIC INSTRUCTOR:MUSIC EDUCATION TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES AT MADERA. THE MUSIC PROGRAM INCLUDED VOCAL EXERCISES RECORDERS AND MUSICAL THEORY.
  3. $32,000 spent. ENRICHMENT SUPPORT: THIS IS FOR AN INSTRUCTOR AND SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PROVIDE INTERVENTIONAL READING AND MATH SUPPORT.
  4. $25,563 spent. SCIENCE CAMP & GRADUATION 6TH GRADE: EACH YEAR ALL STUDENTS IN THE 6TH GRADE GO TO AN AWAY CAMP TO STUDY SCIENCE IN NATURE. THEY ALSO HAVE A GRADUATION AT THE END OF THE YEAR THAT INCLUDES CELEBRATION COSTS.
  5. $19,841 spent. TEACHER SUPPORT: MEF BUDGETED 1,000.00 FOR EACH LOWER GRADE TEACHER AND 1,500.00 FOR EACH UPPER GRADE TEACHER. TEACHERS TURNED IN RECEIPTS TO GET REIMBURSED FOR UP TO THE BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR CLASSROOM SUPLIES & SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS.
  6. $7,623 spent. CULTURAL ARTS: ASSEMBLIES EXPENSE THERE ARE SEVERAL CULTURAL ARTS AND ENRICHMENT ASSEMBLIES FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.
  7. $7,316 spent. PRINCIPALS FUND FOR UNFORESEEN EXPENSE: MONEY IS BUDGETED FOR THE PRINCIPAL TO CHOOSE A PROGRAM OR SUPPLIES OF HIS CHOICE TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE STUDENTS EDUCATION.
  8. $2,050 spent. PUBERTY EDUCATION: 5TH GRADERS RECEIVED PUBERTY EDUCATION.
  9. $2,000 spent. ART SUPPLIES: THE ART TEACHER USED FUNDS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FIRST TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AND THEN WAS REIMBURSED FOR ADDITIONAL MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THE STUDENTS PROJECTS.
  10. $667 spent. RUNNING CLUB: BETWEEN 8AM AND 8:30AM STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RUN OR WALK BEFORE SCHOOL. DISTANCES ARE TRACKED. EXPENSES COME FROM TRACKING SUPPLIES MATERIALS.
  11. $625 spent. HANDY HELPERS: THE MADERA HANDY HELPERS ARE AN INFORMAL GROUP OF HANDS-ON VOLUNTEERS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON PROJECTS AND EVENTS THAT NEED PHYSICAL SUPPORT LIKE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS ON CAMPUS.
  12. $551 spent. SCHOOL SUPPLIES: EACH YEAR THE MEF PAYS FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES WHEN THE DISTRICT BUDGET FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES IS DEPLETED. THIS INCLUDES PAPER PENCILS AND OTHER OFFICE SUPPLIES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 March 2016.

    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.