Colorado Restaurant Association Education Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE COLORADO RESTAURANT FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION, SKILLS AND FINANCIAL MEANS TO PURSUE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN THE FOOD SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $376,527, executive director
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 92% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (4)
- $995,742 spent. PROSTART AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS: PROSTART IS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS RESTAURANT/HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, CULINARY ARTS, AND BUSINESS ECONOMICS CURRICULUM AND PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ACADEMIC CREDIT, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND PAID WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE COMPETENCY-BASED APPRENTICESHIPS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES COMMITTED TO CAREERS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. APPRENTICES LEARN ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN SPECIFIC CULINARY OR MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES COUPLED WITH CLASSROOM AND/OR SELF-PACED INSTRUCTION.
- $2,895 spent. ASSISTANCE: THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES FOR UNEXPECTED ILLNESS, INJURY, NATRUAL DISASTER, AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
- $70,637 spent. SPECIAL EVENTS:SPECIAL EVENTS ARE HELD TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. PRIMARY EVENTS HELD EACH YEAR ARE THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS AND PROSTART STUDENT INVITATIONAL. THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD EVENT IS HELD TO RECOGNIZE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS IN THE PROSTART PROGRAMS WHO ARE PURSUING SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE FIELD. THE COLORADO PROSTART STUDENT INVITATIONAL AND NATIONAL PROSTART STUDENT INVITATIONAL) ARE COMPETITIONS WHERE PROSTART STUDENTS COMPETE WITH THEIR PEERS IN OTHER COLORADO HIGH SCHOOLS AND WITH STATE WINNING TEAMS FROM OTHER STATES, RESPECTIVELY.
- $44,942 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS:THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO COLORADO PROSTART GRADUATES AND POST-SECONDARY UNDERGRADUATES THAT ARE PURSUING A COLLEGE EDUCATION IN THE FOODSERVICE AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.