Zeta Beta Tau Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.THE ZETA BETA TAU FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION EXCLUSIVELY COMMITTED TO EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES THAT ASSIST THE COLLEGIATE AND ALUMNI BROTHERS OF ZETA BETA TAU FRATERNITY. THE FOUNDATION ASSISTS THE COLLEGIATE AND ALUMNI BROTHERS OF ZETA BETA TAU FRATERNITY BY FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARE THEM TO BE LEADERS OF SOCIETY. THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE FOUNDATION ENHANCE THE OVERALL VALUE OF BROTHERHOOD IN ZETA BETA TAU FRATERNITY BY COMPLEMENTING THE COLLEGIATE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 59%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 59%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 98
- Highest pay
- $162,589, chief executive officer
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 75% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1559% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 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 2511 of 11 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 (3)
- $301,274 spent. TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION ARE BROTHERS OF ZETA BETA TAU FRATERNITY. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE GRANTED BASED ON A FORMULA OF NEED, SCHOLARSHIP, COMMUNITY, CAMPUS AND CHAPTER ACTIVITY.
- $925,150 spent. LEADERSHIP GRANTS AND PROGRAMS - TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS WHICH BRING TOGETHER UNDERGRADUATES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO ATTEND PANELS, SEMINARS, BREAK-OUTS AND OTHER EVENTS ON TOPICS SUCH AS GENERAL LEADERSHIP, GROUP DYNAMICS, CRISIS AND RISK MANAGEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, EVENT PLANNING, BUDGETING AND FINANCES, COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.
- $33,655 spent. HATE PREVENTION GRANTS AND PROGRAMS - TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ANTI-HATE PROGRAMS WHICH BRING TOGETHER UNDERGRADUATES IN ORDER TO ATTEND PANELS, SEMINARS, BREAK-OUTS AND OTHER EVENTS ON TOPICS SUCH AS COMBATTING CAMPUS-ANTI-SEMITISM, ISRAEL, HATE PREVENTION, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
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 October 13, 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 February 2009.
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 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.