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Independent College Fund of Maryland Inc

EIN 52-0692469 · Annapolis, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE I-FUND IS TO PROVIDE COLLEGE ACCESS, CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITIES BY RAISING FUNDS, PRINCIPALLY FROM BUSINESSES AND FOUNDATIONS, TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS TO STUDENTS ATTENDING I-FUND MEMBER INSTITUTIONS. THE I-FUND STRIVES TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY LEADERSHIP IN THE CIVIC, CORPORATE, AND POLITICAL COMMUNITIES; TO STRENGTHEN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS BY PREPARING PEOPLE TO REASON AND DISCERN TRUTH; AND TO ENRICH THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR NEW PROGRAMS, TECHNOLOGIES AND OTHER RESOURCES. THE I-FUND'S PROGRAMS INCLUDE UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT, A POOLED SCHOLARSHIP FUND, NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, AND DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$145,531
Spending
$159,383
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
3

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

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% 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

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • 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

    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 (3)
  1. $55,510 spent. THE POOLED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HELPS ENSURE THE BENEFITS OF AN INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION ARE AVAILABLE TO MANY QUALIFIED STUDENTS FOR WHOM THE COST OF COLLEGE WOULD OTHERWISE BE OUT OF REACH. SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THIS FUND ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS OF ALL MAJORS BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED. GRANTS FUND BASIC AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL NEEDS.
  2. $43,873 spent. THE DESIGNATED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS DONORS TO CHOOSE THE SPECIFIC I-FUND MEMBER COLLEGE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THEIR GIFT TO THE I-FUND. THE NAMED SCHOLARSHIP FUND PROVIDES BUSINESSES AND FOUNDATION PARTNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION BY CREATING NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH ARE AWARDED TO ONE STUDENT AT EACH MEMBER COLLEGE BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED.
  3. $27,000 spent. THE I-FUND IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION WHICH COLLABORATES WITH HUNDREDS OF PRIVATE COLLEGES ACROSS THE NATION AND IS A PRIMARY VOICE OF INDEPENDENT HIGHER EDUCATION.

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 June 1953.

    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.

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