Kentucky Entrepreneurship Education Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
KEENSTART WAS CREATED TO RUN THE GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR ENTREPRENEURS WHICH INCLUDES INTERRELATED HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND ALUMNI PROGRAMS. WE TEACH AND EMPOWER KENTUCKY'S FUTURE INNOVATORS WITH LIFELONG ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 20 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $107,750, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 255 of 6 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 September 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)
- $728,565 spent. DURING GSE'S SUMMER STARTUP, TEAMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DEVELOP A BUSINESS MODEL, A PROTOTYPE, AND PITCH THEIR COMPANY TO A LARGE AUDIENCE. STUDENTS LEARN A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AS THEY LIVE IN A COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING LONG-LASTING CONNECTIONS AND SKILLS. EDUCATORS, BUSINESS LEADERS, EXPERIENCED ENTREPRENEURS, AND OTHER MENTORS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE STUDENTS IN EXPERIENTIAL, HANDS-ON LEARNING SESSIONS, AND CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. STUDENTS LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. THEY ALSO LEARN FROM COLLEGIATE PITCH ALUMS AND ARE INTRODUCED TO COLLEGIATE PITCH AS A NEXT STEP IN THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY.
- $110,132 spent. GSE'S COLLEGIATE PITCH PROGRAM IS KENTUCKY'S LARGEST INTERCOLLEGIATE PITCH COMPETITION AND PROVIDES ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING, ALONG WITH VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERTS. THE COMPETITION ENCOURAGES INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AND PURSUE THEIR BUSINESS IDEAS. THE CONTEST REWARDS BUSINESSES JUDGED TO BE THE MOST LIKELY TO PRODUCE SUCCESSFUL VENTURES THAT CREATE JOBS FOR KENTUCKIANS. COLLEGIATE PITCH IS PART OF THE SUMMER STARTUP CURRICULUM, AS THOSE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT COLLEGIATE PITCH BUSINESSES, LEARN FROM COLLEGIATE PITCH PARTICIPANTS, AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO COLLEGIATE PITCH AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT OFFERS FOR THEIR ONGOING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
- $5,525 spent. GSE'S ECOSYSTEM IS A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR THE ALUMNI OF SUMMER STARTUP AND COLLEGIATE PITCH. THE ECOSYSTEM WORKS TO HELP PROMOTE ALUMNI BUSINESSES, PROVIDE NETWORKING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, ALONG WITH ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.