Rockingham Educational Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT LEARNING BY SECURING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT BENEFIT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $585,851
- Spending
- $513,359
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 91.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 54%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $47,666, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 91.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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
Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $164,588 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED UPON STRICT CRITERIA, AFTER SUBSTANTIAL REVIEW BY A COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE AWARDS. DUE CARE IS FOLLOWED TO AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL AND FOUNDATION. DURING THE SPRING OF 2025, REFI AWARDED 92 SCHOLARSHIPS TO 68 GRADUATING SENIORS FROM ROCKINGHAM COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.
- $37,589 spent. INNOVATIVE IDEA EDUCATION GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO DESERVING TEACHERS WHO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR EXPENSES FOR PROVIDING AN INNOVATIVE IDEA IN TEACHING STUDENTS. GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE ADVERTISED AND ACCEPTED ONE TO TWO TIMES PER YEAR, ONCE IN THE FALL AND ONCE IN THE SPRING, IF FUNDING ALLOWS. 91 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED IN THE FALL OF 2024 WITH AWARDS BEING GIVEN TO 47 GRANT RECIPIENTS.
- $3,275 spent. TEACHER, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION RECOGNITION PROGRAMS: EACH SPRING, REFI FACILITATES THE COORDINATION OF THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM IN EACH OF THE 25 ROCKINGHAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. REFI RECOGNIZES THESE INDIVIDUALS DURING A CELEBRATION RECEPTION IN THE SPRING. MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE FROM REFI'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECT ONE TEACHER AS THE "LUCY SIMMS EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR" RECIPIENT. THIS INDIVIDUAL REPRESNTS ROCKINGHAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S "TEACHER OF THE YEAR SELECTION PROCESS.
- $212,099 spent. VARIOUS OTHER GRANTS AND PROGRAMS EXPENSES ARE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.