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Native Nations Education Foundation

EIN 48-1307077 · Hilo, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceFair69 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The organization provides training, education, development, research and scholarship for projects related to education and improving the life conditions of indigenous peoples. Primary current activities create and support diverse Hawaiian culture based education activities for Native Hawaiians in Hawai'i.

Income
$268,809
Spending
$423,894
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 62%
Employees
4
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$72,100, executive/project director

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% 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

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $389,505 spent. PANEE MUA PROJECT: THE FOCUS OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A HAWAIIAN CULTURE INFUSED ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (GED/HiSET/C-BASED) AND INTENSIVE EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS SUPPORT SERVICES AND NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIRST DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADULTS IN THE EAST HAWAII COMMUNITY. NNEF BEGAN THE PANEE MUA PROJECT IN 2013. UNDER CURRENT GRANT FUNDING, THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE THROUGH 2025, WRITING CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMMING GUIDES FOR ALL PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES WHILE PROVIDING DIRECT INSTRUCTION AND EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN ADULTS. THE PROJECT CERTIFIED 11 INDIVIDUALS WITH EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATIONS AND 2 HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. SUPPORT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 35 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 19 SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS PURSUING THIER FIRST SECONDARY/POST-HIGH CREDENTIAL, CERTIFICATION OR DEGREE. THIS PROJECT SERVED 60 NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
  2. $16,233 spent. Partner in Puuhonua Wellness - Phase 2: Sustainability Agriculture and Agricultural Technology project. The project goal is to contribute to the food resiliency and workforce of the Sustainable Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SA/AT) industries on the islands of Hawaii, Molokai, Maui, Kauai and Oahu as well as to the personal and professional development of at least 55 formerly incarcerated Native Hawaiian and their historically underserved family members annually. This will be done by providing career and technical training education as well as cultural interventions, both of which will help transform mindsets and behavior and strengthen the ability to withstand the stresses of reintegration. NNEF's role is 1. Work with the CTE trainer and BFC to incorporate the Sustainable Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SA/AT) curricular content into its Native Hawaiian cultural education framework. 2. Provide referrals to cultural practitioners and/or supplemental training in the form of Professional Development and other activities for project personnel, contractors and community collaborators and hub managers when needed. 3. Assist with recruitment services of project participants on Hawaii Island. 4. Provide intake services, including, but not limited to, production, gathering and processing of participant and community hub manager intake forms and other documentation. 5. Provide educational and mentoring support to project participants as needed.

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 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 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 November 2005.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

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