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Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation

EIN 71-0971013 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR INDUSTRY'S FUTURE BY TRAINING THE WORKFORCE OF TODAY AND INSPIRING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.

Income
$460,805
Spending
$387,267
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$171,595, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $257,639 spent. PROSTART PROGRAM:PROSTART IS A TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM FOR CULINARY ARTS AND FOODSERVICE MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES CLASSROOM STUDY, MENTORED WORK EXPERIENCES AND AN OPTIONAL PROSTART INVITATIONAL COMPETITION. PROSTART, AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, IS OFFERED IN OVER 100 MINNESOTA SCHOOLS ENGAGING MORE THAN 5,500 STUDENTS WITH OVER 750 ALREADY WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY. THE HMEF CONNECTS MENTORS TO EACH SCHOOL, PROVIDES PROGRAM TEACHERS WITH TRAINING AND INDUSTRY RESOURCES, AND SPONSORS THE STATEWIDE PROSTART COMPETITION EACH SPRING. THE COMPETITION FEATURES TWO CATEGORIES: CULINARY ARTS AND FOODSERVICE MANAGEMENT. ANNUALLY , UP TO TWENTY TEAMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE FOR AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE TOP TEAM IN EACH CATEGORY ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL PROSTART INVITATIONAL HELD IN MAY. HMEF PROVIDES A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE TO EACH TEAM. THE TALENTS OF PROSTART STUDENTS ARE FEATURED AT SEVERAL INDUSTRY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CONNECTING THEM WITH FUTURE EMPLOYERS AND REINFORCING THEIR CAREER CHOICES.
  2. $2,489 spent. HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:THE HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (HTMP) IS A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION THAT INTRODUCES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE LODGING INDUSTRY. THE CURRICULUM COVERS EVERYTHING FROM FRONT OFFICE AND HOUSEKEEPING MANAGEMENT TO MARKETING AND SALES, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AS WELL AS GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MINNESOTA CURRENTLY HAS TWENTY-FIVE SCHOOLS TEACHING THIS PROGRAM WITH AROUND 350 STUDENTS. THE HMEF HAS FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS CONNECTIONS TO MENTORS AND INDUSTRY CONTACTS FOR EACH TEACHER, PROVIDING A "REAL WORLD" RESOURCE FOR THE CLASSROOM.
  3. $35,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2008, THE HMEF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS EXCEEDING $980,000 CUMULATIVELY TO STUDENTS PURSUING POST-SECONDARY DEGREES IN ACCREDITED CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.