Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Decision Education Foundation

EIN 77-0575573 · Palo Alto, 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

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY EMPOWERING THEM WITH EFFECTIVE DECISION SKILLS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TRAINING AND CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

Income
$396,347
Spending
$333,714
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
45.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
1
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$155,544, executive dir.

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% 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 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 95% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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)
  1. $197,322 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: DEF CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY AT SCHOOLS TO DEMONSTRATE THE TEACHING OF DECISION SKILLS. THESE INTERACTIONS DEVELOPED NEW IDEAS AND NEW TEACHING TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING DECISION SKILLS, with the addition of new audience types. For example, DEF DEF created the Positive Pathways program, which can be integrated into juvenile diversion scenarios. It enhances their decision-making framework with tailored activities that may be more fruitful in creating more responsible citizens than the traditional court programming.
  2. $16,167 spent. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES PROGRAM: For a fourth year, a partner school delivered DEFs college and career readiness and health-specific curriculum, throughout the first and second semesters. DEF created relevant materials that received positive feedback from the teachers. The HLC program reached about 200 9th grade students. The students received community college credit for completing the course.
  3. $12,065 spent. STRONGSTART PROGRAM: DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION "DEF" continues to implement the train the teacher model for delivering a 5-day academic camp organized around Decision Skills. About 300 students and about 8 teachers across 3 repeat high schools participated in the program. One student liked the program so much that he wanted to be the teacher in 2025. These schools have implemented the StrongStart program for multiple years.
  4. $11,707 spent. SCHOOL-WIDE TRAINING: DEF provided consulting services and training to the students, teachers, and leadership on the Decision Quality model for a district partner. With everyone having shared decision-making language and a framework, its easier to employ concepts and tools when school-wide decisions are made, when teachers make decisions in their classrooms, when students are selecting classes,extracurriculars, post-graduation plans, etc.

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 February 2002.

    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.