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Polk Education Foundation and Business Partnership Inc

EIN 59-2956529 · Bartow, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ESTABLISH A PROACTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO LINK COMMUNITY RESOURCES WITH THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ITS STUDENTS THROUGH READING AND MENTORING PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOOL GRANTS AND OTHER EDUCATION ENDEAVORS.

Income
$13.6 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
21.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$62,367, executive director (as of 8/24)

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.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 286% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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 (5)
  1. $820,345 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS - IN OUR ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, DONORS DECIDE THE CRITERIA USED FOR SELECTION, MOST FOCUS ON NEED AND OR ACADEMIC ABILITY. AWARDED FUNDS GENERALLY GO DIRECTLY TO THE INSTITUTION RATHER THAN THE STUDENT. PART OF OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS OUR TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN (TSIC) PROGRAM, WHICH NOT ONLY PROVIDES A 2 OR 4 YEAR TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENTS IN FINANCIAL NEED, BUT EACH RECIPIENT IS ALSO MATCHED WITH A MENTOR WHILE THEY ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND GETS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER TSIC SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPS, FREE CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND COLLEGE TOURS.
  2. $665,225 spent. AMERICORPS POLK READS - PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE READING TUTORING TO KINDERGARTEN - THIRD GRADE STUDENTS DEEMED BELOW GRADE LEVEL BY THEIR CLASSROOM TEACHER. TRAINED READING TUTORS WORK WITH THE TEACHER TO DETERMINE SKILLS TAUGHT AND STRATEGIES USED. TUTORING TAKES PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY IN THE CHILD'S REGULAR READING BLOCK TO AVOID TRANSPORTATION ISSUES TO A TUTORING PROGRAM HELD BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL. MOST CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN TUTORED IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE GAINED AT LEAST ONE GRADE LEVEL IN READING, MOST TWO. ADDITIONALLY, TUTORS PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS RELATED TO LITERACY.
  3. $626,799 spent. GRANTS - THE POLK EDUCATION FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES. THE GRANT PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED WERE: THE TEACHER TO TEACHER CONNECTION, WHICH HELPS SHARE INNOVATIVE TEACHING PRACTICES AND PROVIDES GRANT MONIES TO CLASSROOMS TO REPLICATE THOSE PRACTICES; STEM EDUCATION GRANTS, WHICH PROVIDE SUPPLY MONEY FOR STEM LESSONS TAUGHT AS PART OF THE REQUIRED CURRICULUM; SCHOOL MATCHING GRANTS, WHICH OFFERED A MATCH FOR SCHOOLS TO USE TO RAISE LOCAL DOLLARS TO SUPPORT LITERACY, LOW PERFORMERS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS OR GRADUATION RATE NEEDS AT THEIR SCHOOL.
  4. $113,352 spent. GENERAL - VARIOUS AWARD PROGRAMS AND DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROJECTS INVOLVING STUDENTS/TEACHERS DIRECTED TOWARDS MOTIVATING AND REWARDING VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
  5. $287,884 spent. TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN, INC. IS A MENTORING, COLLEGE READINESS, AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING POLK COUNTY ONE STUDENT AT A TIME. THE MISSION OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY FOR LOW-INCOME, UNDERREPRESENTED, ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEGREE ATTAINMENT THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WHICH INCLUDE MENTORING, COACHING, AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE MULTI-YEAR MODEL FROM HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH POSTSECONDARY COMPLETION. TAKE STOCK HELPS GIVE STUDENTS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE. UPON SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION OF HIGH SCHOOL, TSIC SCHOLARS EARN A TWO-YEAR FLORIDA PREPAID SCHOLARSHIP TO USE AT ANY PUBLIC ACCREDITED FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE.

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 April 1990.

    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.