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Resource Area for Teaching

EIN 77-0365627 · San Jose, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RAFT BELIEVES THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES A POWERFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE. RAFT'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE JOY THROUGH HANDS ON LEARNING.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
27.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 38%
Employees
114
Volunteers
7,050
Highest pay
$256,592, ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 27.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $1.5 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: WE HAVE VARIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE HAVE ENGAGED OVER 19,000 STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON STEAM LEARNING AND FACILITATED MORE THAN 146 HANDS-ON STEAM EVENTS AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH OUR MAKER MOBILE PROGRAM. SERVED OVER 2,875 STUDENTS IN EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAMMING (SUMMER SCHOOL), DELIVERED STEAMDREAM BOX (SUMMER PROGRAM MATERIALS), AND DEVELOPED 10 NEW STEAM LEARNING ACTIVITY KITS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. RESOURCE CENTERS & WEBSITE: AT RAFT'S VOLUNTEER RESOURCE CENTER, APPROXIMATELY 385 TONS OF DONATED MATERIALS ARE SORTED, PREPPED, AND ASSEMBLED INTO HANDS-ON LEARNING KITS BY 7,050 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY. OUR WEBSITE AND ONLINE STORE OFFER 24/7 ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND RAFT EXPANDED THE ONLINE STORE AND OFFERED CURBSIDE PICK-UP AND DELIVERY OPTIONS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. MATERIALS DONATION/UPCYCLING PROGRAM: RAFT DIVERTS OVER 385 CUBIC TONS OF MATERIALS FROM LANDFILLS ANNUALLY AND MAKES THEM AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS IN OUR RESOURCE CENTER. RAFT WORKS WITH BAY AREA COMPANIES TO COLLECT AND UPCYCLE MATERIALS THEY NO LONGER NEED, FROM OFFICE SUPPLIES TO LAB EQUIPMENT, SO THAT RAFT CAN REPURPOSE THEM INTO HANDS-ON LEARNING MATERIALS. MEMBERS CAN ALSO BUY THEM IN BULK TO CREATE THEIR OWN LEARNING MATERIALS. SINCE BEING FOUNDED IN 1994, RAFT HAS RECEIVED OVER 10 MILLION CUBIC FEET OF DONATED MATERIALS. RAFT ADDRESSES EDUCATORS' NEEDS AND PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT FULFILL THE NECESSARY STANDARDS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR FUTURE CAREERS.

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 July 1994.

    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.