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Hillsborough Education Foundation Inc

EIN 59-2883361 · Tampa, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To ensure every student in Hillsborough County receives an outstanding public education that equips them for a fulfilling future.

Income
$11.7 million
Spending
$11.1 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
43
Volunteers
1,174
Highest pay
$188,307, president, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 30 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. Our Teaching Tools program provides critical school supplies and classroom resources year-round to teachers in all schools. Teaching Tools is a real brick and mortar store primarily stocked through donations of school supplies from individuals and businesses where teachers shop for free school supplies to distribute to students in need. With the help of volunteers who gave over 3,976 hours, Teaching Tools provided support to 3,344 unique teachers in Hillsborough County.
  2. $2.1 million spent. As an affiliate of the statewide Take Stock in Children program, students at or below poverty level along with other risk factors are provided with a mentor, college readiness coach and the commitment of a college scholarship. During the 2024-2025 school year, 314 students participated in the Take Stock program. For the 2025 senior class, 64 of 65 Take Stock students in the mentoring program graduated and 61 earned their scholarship - these scholarships had a value of over $521,994. In addition to the TSIC program, HEF also awards community scholarships and 392 students received over $1.1M in scholarships to pursue post-secondary education.
  3. $2.2 million spent. Through school and classroom enrichment grants the foundation provides funding for schools and teachers to increase their capacity to deliver effective and innovative instructional strategies that enhance and expand learning. The foundation awarded grants to support STEM, literacy, English language arts and other educational areas impacting students at over 110 schools.
  4. $3.4 million spent. - The foundation's Tech Connect program helps to close opportunity gaps and increases access in education for students by providing technology resources for family ownership, access to Wi-Fi, and digital literacy skills training. In 2024-2025, 876 students were served through the program.- Hillsborough Education Foundation launched its TELI (Transforming Early Literacy Initiative) program in 2023, and now, in its third year, TELI has provided 12,480 hours of coaching and professional development to teachers, with 82% of teachers reporting increased student participation in literacy activities. TELI is designed to improve literacy education in early grade levels, reaching students in a critical time of their educational journey. - Hillsborough Education Foundation expanded its College and Career Readiness program to five schools, providing 1,464 students with personal guidance and resources to help them plan for life beyond high school. Over 3,200 students were impacted through college visits, career chats and informational workshops, gaining real-world insights into a variety of career paths. The College and Career Readiness program helped 86% of participating students make positive progress in their post-secondary decision making.

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 August 1988.

    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.