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Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education & Research

EIN 80-0446299 · Lititz, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 150 cents.

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

What it says it does

KINBER EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE IN A DIGITAL WORLD.KEYSTONEREN, LLC FOSTERS A COMMUNITY OF COLLABORATION BY PROVIDING ACCESS, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
76.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
15
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$323,085, president and 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 76.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 194% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 150 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $2.9 million spent. PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMSKINBER EXPANDED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH TECH2 ELEVATE, EXPANDING DIGITAL NAVIGATOR SERVICES FROM EIGHT TO ELEVEN SITES IN BEAVER AND ERIE COUNTIES. THIS ALLOWED THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE 637 INDIVIDUALS WITH DIGITAL TRAINING TO SUPPORT EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND ONLINE HEALTH CARE. KINBER'S NEXTUSE TECH PROGRAM COLLECTED 121 USED LAPTOPS, THEN REFURBISHED THEM WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL STUDENTS FROM TWO HIGH SCHOOLS. LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HELPED DISTRIBUTE THE REPURPOSED COMPUTERS TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED IN SEVERAL COUNTIES. KINBER'S MOR LEADERS PROGRAM GRADUATED THIRTY-TWO PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING TWO FROM DIGITAL ACCESS NONPROFITS AND TWO FROM LIBRARIES. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED MENTORING IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, FOSTERING BOTH THEIR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND CROSS SECTOR COLLABORATION ON DIGITAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE.KINBER BECAME THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR STEM-UP NETWORK, AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES WOMEN IN STEM WITH REAL-WORLD STRATEGIES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO FLOURISH, PROSPER AND ADVANCE PERSONALLY AND IN THEIR CAREERS. THE STEM-UP NETWORK WORKS TO NARROW THE GENDER TALENT GAP IN THE STEM WORKFORCE, BY BUILDING CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY THROUGH RESEARCH- AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND RESOURCES. THROUGH STEM-UP AND KINBER'S PARTNERSHIP, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS PLAN TO WORK TOGETHER ON INITIATIVES THAT ENCOURAGE THE DIVERSE PARTICIPATION OF STEM STUDENTS, EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS. KEY STEM-UP NETWORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: THE SPRING 2025 MENTORING COHORT HAD OVER 60 WOMEN IN STEM; THE LARGEST COHORT EVER WOMEN IN STEM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT WAS HELD FOR THE 5TH YEAR IN APRIL 2025 IN HARRISBURG WITH APPROXIMATELY 80 WOMEN IN STEM ATTENDING; M&T BANK SPONSORED IN-KIND PARKING SPACES FOR UP TO 50 ATTENDEES NEXTGEN WOMEN IN STEM WAS PILOTED IN SEPTEMBER 2024 IN HARRISBURG WITH 11 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PARTICIPATING; ABOUT 120 NEXTGEN WOMEN IN STEM ATTENDED; 18 STEM ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN CENTRAL PA PARTICIPATED AND PROVIDED OVER 20 MENTORS FOR THE EVENT. NEXTGEN WOMEN IN STEM WILL BE HELD IN HARRISBURG AND PITTSBURGH IN OCTOBER 2025. STEM-UP BOOK CLUB ESTABLISHED A ROBUST SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN LAUNCHED; POSTING ON AVERAGE 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK STEM-UP SPONSORED 3 WOMEN IN SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARDS WHICH GAINED STEM-UP VISIBILITY AS A SPONSOR AT THE 100TH MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE (PAS). STEM-UP AND PAS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A MOU THAT WILL CREATE A PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE 41 INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE ACADEMY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BILI MATTES WAS THE FEATURED SPEAKER IN DECEMBER 2024 AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LANCASTER SOCIETY OF HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS; IN MARCH 2025 WITH PENNDOT'S VIRTUAL SERIES HONORING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH; IN MAY 2025 AT THE ONEHR CONFERENCE. ADDITIONAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ARE PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER 2025 WITH THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS OF THE LEBANON VALLEY CHAMBER AND IN OCTOBER 2025 AT KINBERCON. BILI MATTES WAS NOMINATED AND IS A FINALIST FOR THE WOMEN IN TECH ALLY AWARD BEING PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 BY THE TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN IN TECH GROUP.KINBER CONTINUED ITS MULTICHANNEL SOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, A STRATEGIC EFFORT FOCUSED ON PROVIDING CONTENT THAT INCREASES PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE BARRIERS FACED BY MANY IN ACCESSING THE DIGITAL WORLD, AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND CIVIC AND SOCIAL CONNECTION. KINBER IMPROVED ITS VISIBILITY AND GAINED NEW DONORS BY PARTICIPATING IN THE LANCASTER COUNTY' COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S EXTRA GIVE, A REGIONAL DAY OF CHARITABLE GIVING. THE EVENT INSPIRED INCREASED GENEROSITY FROM EXISTING DONORS AND FIRST-TIME GIFTS FROM NEW SUPPORTERS. KEYSTONEREN GREW SERVICE REVENUE GREATER THAN 40%, LAUNCHING KEYSTONEREN CONSULTING SERVICES AND KR TECHNICAL AFFINITY GROUP. IN THE FISCAL YEAR KEYSTONEREN ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 100G CONNECTION WITH A RESEARCH 1 UNIVERSITY AND ESTABLISHED A NEW NETWORK POP IN STATE COLLEGE, PA. ADDITIONALLY, KEYSTONE REN LAUNCHED THE FOLLOWING WEBINARS AND TRAINING COMMENCING IN JANUARY 2025: LEVERAGING STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE FOR INNOVATION IN SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WEBINAR PROTECT YOUR INSTITUTION'S INTERNET CONNECTION CREATING RPKI ROAS WEBINAR MODERN CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESEARCH DATA 2-DAY WORKSHOP OVERVIEW OF INCOMMON AND EDUROAM WEBINAR

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 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 June 2025.

    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 January 2011.

    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.