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Pinellas County Education Foundation Inc

EIN 59-2688253 · Largo, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ACCELERATE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS THROUGH THE EFFECTIVE MOBILIZATION OF INNOVATION, RELATIONSHIPS, AND RESOURCES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)OUR WORK CENTERS AROUND ENSURING EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION SO THAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER THE CHOICE IS TO ATTEND COLLEGE, TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE, OR TO OBTAIN TECHNICAL TRAINING.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$10.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
38
Volunteers
4,303
Highest pay
$268,950, 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (6)
  1. $3.0 million spent. OUR TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN (TSIC) PROGRAM IS A LONG-TERM INITIATIVE THAT PAIRS LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH CARING MENTORS, COLLEGE SUCCESS COACHES AND GIVES THEM A COMMITMENT OF A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP. STUDENTS ENTER THE PROGRAM BETWEEN THE GRADES OF 6-9 AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. STUDENTS MUST MAINTAIN AT LEAST A 'C' AVERAGE IN ALL CLASSES, MEET REGULARLY WITH THEIR MENTOR, REMAIN DRUG AND CRIME-FREE, ATTEND COLLEGE SUCCESS PLANNING MEETINGS, AND GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FROM THE TIME STUDENTS ENTER THE PROGRAM THROUGH THEIR POSTSECONDARY ATTAINMENT, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 1,100 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, TSIC HAS MAINTAINED A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE OF 96% OR HIGHER. IN THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR, TSIC HAD A 99% GRADUATION RATE.
  2. $3.0 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS AND DISTRICT SUPPORT: WE HOST EVENTS LIKE THE EVENING OF EXCELLENCE, OUR ANNUAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION, AND WALKER'S RISING STARS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, A COMPETITION HONORING THE DISTRICT'S TOP STUDENT PERFORMERS IN THE ARTS, INCLUDING VISUAL AND CULINARY ARTISTS.
  3. $964,131 spent. WE AWARDED OVER 200 SCHOLARSHIPS ENTRUSTED TO US BY THE COMMUNITY TO AWARD GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS VARY IN AMOUNT BASED ON THE CRITERIA SET BY DONORS WHO FUND THEM, WHO MAY FOCUS ON SPECIFIC MAJORS, VOLUNTEER HOURS, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, SPORTS, OR FINANCIAL NEEDS. STUDENTS APPLY FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE, WHERE A SINGLE APPLICATION IS PROCESSED FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIPS THAT THE STUDENT MEETS THE CRITERIA. SCHOLARSHIPS CAN BE EITHER ONE-TIME AWARDS OR RENEWABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO MEET QUALIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED AS SENIORS IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS, AND THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SEPARATE FROM OUR TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN MENTORING PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS.
  4. $818,871 spent. CURRICULUM ENRICHMENTS:WE ENRICH THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT FUND INNOVATIVE CLASSROOM PROJECTS BEYOND THE STANDARD CURRICULUM, HANDS ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INCREASE LEARNING AS WELL AS FOSTER AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS.ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE INITIATIVES, ENTERPRISE VILLAGE, HELPS FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS DEVELOP BASIC ECONOMIC CONCEPTS AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS. DURING A ONE-DAY FIELD TRIP, STUDENTS CAN WORK IN ONE OF 20+ PROFESSIONS, TAKE BREAKS, RECEIVE PAYCHECKS AND MAKE PURCHASES. EVERY FIFTH-GRADE STUDENT IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS VISITS ENTERPRISE VILLAGE. FINANCE PARK IS A SIMILAR REALITY-BASED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEACH PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND INTRODUCE MONETARY DECISION-MAKING. EVERY EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENT IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS VISITS FINANCE PARK.
  5. $763,868 spent. WE STRATEGICALLY FOCUS ON LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT BECAUSE RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE IS A STRONG PREDICTOR OF A STUDENT'S LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS, LAYING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THEIR ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. WE HAVE TWO KEY PROGRAMS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING LITERACY OUTCOMES: THE PINELLAS EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE (PELI) AND CLOSING THE GAP. PELI FOCUSES ON INCREASING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING FOR PRE-K THROUGH 2ND-GRADE TEACHERS. NOW ENTERING ITS FIFTH YEAR IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, PELI AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE THROUGH TARGETED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING. SINCE THE START OF THIS PROGRAM, 94% OF PARTICIPATING PELI SCHOOLS HAD SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PROFICIENCY. THIS PAST YEAR, 350 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON LITERACY AND IMPROVING INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES. CLOSING THE GAP ADDRESSES THE GENDER ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN LITERACY WITHOUT OUR SCHOOLS. THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH RESEARCH-BASED PRACTICES TO HELP MALE STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR FOCUS AND COMPREHENSION. THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD 9 SCHOOLS CLOSE THE GENDER ACHIEVEMENT LITERACY GAP.
  6. $469,966 spent. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS:WE STRATEGICALLY INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR EQUIP THEM WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE. COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN PINELLAS COUNTY AND SERVE AS SUPPORT HUBS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED AND TARGETED ASSISTANCE TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. THIS INCLUDES CAREER EXPLORATION, COLLEGE EXPLORATION, APPLICATION SUBMISSION, SAT/ACT PREPARATION, COLLEGE FAIRS AND EVENTS, AND FINANCIAL AND SCHOLARSHIP PLANNING.

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 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 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 October 1986.

    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.

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.