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Penn Praxis Inc

EIN 75-2974931 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PENN PRAXIS SERVES TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE STUART WEITZMAN SCHOOL OF DESIGN IN THE FIELDS OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINE ART AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. PENN PRAXIS IS A VEHICLE FOR CARRYING OUT PRACTICAL OR APPLIED PROJECTS FOR EXTERNAL CLIENTS. PENN PRAXIS SERVES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT AND FACULTY EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES, AND PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$684,806
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
3.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$784,303, director

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes -114% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 89% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 9 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 (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS PENN PRAXIS OPERATES TO SUPPORT THE CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ("PENN"). THE FOCUS OF PENN PRAXIS' ACTIVITIES ARE TO BROADEN AND ENRICH PENN'S ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE AND TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE STUART WEITZMAN SCHOOL OF DESIGN IN THE FIELDS OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINE ART AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. IN ADDITION, PENN PRAXIS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT AND FACULTY EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY TIES, AND PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. IN THIS REGARD, THE OBJECTIVES OF PENN PRAXIS INCLUDE: OFFERING INCREASED AND ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO TEST IDEAS AND APPLY THEORIES THROUGH PRACTICAL PROJECTS; PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH FACULTY, WHILE OFFERING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS DURING THEIR STUDIES; ENCOURAGING JOINT PROJECTS BY FACULTY ACROSS THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OF THE STUART WEITZMAN SCHOOL OF DESIGN, AS WELL AS PROMOTING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO NORMAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OR WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE FULL COST OF THOSE SERVICES. IN ADDITION, THE INVOLVEMENT OF PENN ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY WITH PENN PRAXIS IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENHANCED CURRICULUM AND TEACHING METHODS. AS PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES, PENN PRAXIS OPERATES TO SELECT AND MANAGE PROJECTS IN THE FIELDS OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FINE ART, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. PROJECTS MAY COME THROUGH FACULTY MEMBERS, STUDENTS, OR BE PROPOSED BY COMMUNITY CLIENTS IN NEED OF SERVICES.

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 June 2003.

    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.

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