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Monroe County Education Foundation Inc

EIN 65-0551178 · Key West, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DIRECTED TOWARD AIDING, SUPPLEMENTING, IMPROVING, ENHANCING AND COMPLEMENTING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MONROE COUNTY STUDENTS.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
0
Volunteers
370

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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 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 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    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.

  • 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. $1.4 million spent. THE MONROE COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION (MCEF), THROUGH ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN (TSIC), PROVIDES FUNDING, SUMMER EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND MENTORSHIP TO HELP MONROE COUNTY STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL. MCEF PROVIDES ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR FLORIDA STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF NOT ATTENDING COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. THROUGH THE PROGRAM, MCEF MATCHES AT RISK STUDENTS WITH MENTORS, GUIDES STUDENTS IN MAKING SMART CAREER CHOICES, AND GUARANTEES RESOURCES SO THAT MONROE COUNTY STUDENTS MAY COMPLETE A COLLEGE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE. TSIC MONROE GRANTS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS UPON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TO QUALIFIED 6TH-12TH GRADE STUDENT-RECIPIENTS OF INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES RESIDING IN THE COUNTY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)TSIC MONROE IS AN AWARD-WINNING MODEL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, A CONCERTED ENDEAVOR CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 370 DEDICATED VOLUNTEER MENTORS AND STUDENTS WITH A NETWORK OF INDIVIDUAL DONORS, CORPORATE SPONSORS AND A HARDWORKING STAFF. MCEF RECOGNIZED THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CELEBRATED THE GRADUATION OF 81 TSIC SCHOLARS IN MAY 2025 DURING A LIVE OUTDOOR CEREMONY. A TOTAL OF 1,165 STUDENTS FROM MONROE COUNTY HAVE RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED.
  2. $136,829 spent. EXPERIMENT IN INTERNATIONAL LIVING (EIL), MONROE COUNTY IS A COMPANION PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN SPONSORED BY MCEF SINCE 2006. AREA HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING ABROAD WITH FAMILIES FOR 3 TO 5 WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. A VARIETY OF PROGRAM THEMES ARE DESIGNED TO INSTILL A DEEPER CULTURAL AWARENESS, NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE SKILLS, AND ENCOURAGE MANY OTHER HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. EIL HAS OFFERED THESE OPPORTUNITIES, NATIONALLY, SINCE 1932. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2025, 15 TSIC STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN AN EIL PROGRAM.
  3. $64,829 spent. COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROJECTS ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACING AT-RISK, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS ON A PATH TOWARDS HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION AND POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT. THESE INITIATIVES PREPARE PARTICIPANTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER PURSUITS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER THEY ENROLL IN COLLEGE OR A CAREER-TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND PROVIDES SUPPORT ALONG THE SECONDARY EDUCATION CONTINUUM WITH WORKSHOPS AND RESOURCES FOCUSED ON PREPAREDNESS AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND CAREER.MCEF, THROUGH ADDITIONAL GRANT-FUNDING, PROVIDES 4 COLLEGE CAMPUS VISITS AND TOURS DURING THE YEAR AS WELL AS SEVERAL COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS WORKSHOPS TO TSIC STUDENTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

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 January 1997.

    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.