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Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation Inc

EIN 54-2025186 · Richmond, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RPSEF SUPPORTS TEACHING AND LEARNING INSIDE RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ALREADY COVERED BY EXISTING PUBLIC FUNDING. THE FOUNDATION FOCUSES IN THREE AREAS; STUDENT SUCCESS, TEACHING INNOVATION AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$5.0 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$139,035, ceo

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: 60 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

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

  • 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. $650,937 spent. EARLY LITERACY: THE RICHMOND ED FUND INVESTED IN IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED EARLY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACROSS RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY SUPPORTING THE SCIENCE OF READING APPROACH THROUGH UFLI AND PROVIDING ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL K2 TEACHERS, LED BY LITERACY COACHES. AS VIRGINIA TRANSITIONED FROM THE PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS LITERACY SCREENING (PALS) TO THE VIRGINIA LANGUAGE & LITERACY SCREENING SYSTEM (VALLSS), RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACHIEVED A 14-POINT GROWTH IN EARLY LITERACY OUTCOMES IN FY25. THESE INVESTMENTS STRENGTHEN FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS, WHICH ARE CLOSELY LINKED TO LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS, GRADUATION RATES, AND WORKFORCE READINESS, REDUCING FUTURE REMEDIATION COSTS, IMPROVING THE RETURN ON PUBLIC EDUCATION INVESTMENTS, AND STRENGTHENING THE REGION'S LONG-TERM TALENT PIPELINE.
  2. $85,000 spent. RPS200: THE RICHMOND ED FUND CONTINUED SUPPORTING RPS200, AN EXTENDED LEARNING TIME INITIATIVE AIMED AT ACCELERATING ACADEMIC PROGRESS FOR STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT MOST FROM EXTRA INSTRUCTION AND ENRICHMENT. BY INCREASING LEARNING TIME WITHOUT NEEDING SIGNIFICANT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, THE INITIATIVE MAXIMIZES THE USE OF EXISTING SCHOOL RESOURCES WHILE ACHIEVING NOTABLE ACADEMIC GAINS FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS. THIS APPROACH ENHANCES SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ENSURES ON-TIME GRADE PROGRESSION, AND IMPROVES LONG-TERM WORKFORCE READINESS, THEREBY INCREASING THE OVERALL RETURN ON PUBLIC EDUCATION INVESTMENTS AND HELPING BUILD A STRONGER, MORE DEPENDABLE FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR THE RICHMOND REGION.
  3. $3.9 million spent. RPS LEADS: THE RICHMOND ED FUND SUPPORTED RPS LEADS, A YEARLONG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND NEW PRINCIPALS TO BECOME HIGHLY EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERS ACROSS RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND COACHING ALIGNED WITH DISTRICT PRIORITIES, RESULTING IN 100% RETENTION OF COHORT MEMBERS AND TWO PROMOTIONS TO EXPANDED LEADERSHIP ROLES. INVESTMENTS IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STRENGTHEN SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, IMPROVE TEACHER RETENTION, AND REDUCE COSTLY LEADERSHIP TURNOVER, ENSURING STRONGER INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS AND INCREASING THE LONG-TERM RETURN ON PUBLIC EDUCATION INVESTMENTS THROUGH MORE STABLE AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.

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 November 6, 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 May 2001.

    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 November 4, 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.