Frankie Lemmon Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FRANKIE LEMMON FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER AND LEMMON TREE ACADEMY. ONLY A PORTION OF THE SCHOOL'S TOTAL OPERATING COSTS ARE COVERED BY STATE FUNDING THROUGH THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE FRANKIE LEMMON FOUNDATION, THROUGH ITS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, PROVIDES MOST OF THE FUNDS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS. THE FOUNDATION IS THE ORGANIZER OF THE TRIANGLE WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE, ONE OF THE AREA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EVENTS. THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT HAS BEEN THE CATALYST FOR LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED BY THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER AND LEMMON TREE ACADEMY. THE SCHOOLS ALSO SERVE TYPICALLY DEVELOPING CHILDREN WHO PAY TUITION TO ATTEND.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 22.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $175,291, 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 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $2.6 million spent. THROUGH FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND ANNUAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL & DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER AND LEMMON TREE ACADEMY. THE SCHOOLS PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND DELAYS IN AN INCLUSIVE SETTING. THE SCHOOLS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE UP TO 100 CHILDREN. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ENROLLED REQUIRING ADDITIONAL ATTENTION DUE TO THEIR COMPLEX MEDICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES INCREASED RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN THE TOTAL STUDENTS ADMITTED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN SERVED HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, THE SCHOOLS DO SERVE DEVELOPING CHILDREN AS WELL. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND VISION AND HEARING SERVICES, WHICH ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH CHILD.
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? Worth knowing.
Recognized by the IRS in May 2026. It is too new to have a track record.
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.
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.