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Institute for Financial Literacy Inc

EIN 76-0707546 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 226 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COUNSELING. THE INSTITUTE WORKS WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO INCORPORATE FINANCIAL EDUCATION INTO THEIR EXISTING SERVICES AND IS DEPENDENT UPON INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION.

Income
$215,625
Spending
$287,190
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$96,222, exec dir./se

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 226 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $82,594 spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION: THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FINANCIAL EDUCATION PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION. IN ADDITION TO BEING A CRITICAL NETWORKING EVENT FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATORS, THE CONFERENCE OFFERS ATTENDEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT CURRENT TRENDS, PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES AND, ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
  2. $167,741 spent. FINCERT.ORG: FORMERLY, THE CENTER FOR FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION. THE MISSION OF FINCERT.ORG IS TO ADVANCE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATION AND COUNSELING WITHIN THE FIELD OF FINANCIAL LITERACY. FINCERT.ORG ACCOMPLISHES THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION FOR THOSE IN THE FINANCIAL COUNSELING, EDUCATION, AND RELATED FIELDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 October 2002.

    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.