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Believe in Students Inc

EIN 81-3612875 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS AND PROMOTE COLLEGE ATTAINMENT BY DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS THAT CAN SCALE TO MEET WIDESPREAD DEMAND.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$762,685
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
6
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$127,470, executive director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 142% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $246,489 spent. #REALCOLLEGE - BIS IS THE ORGANIZATIONAL HOME OF THE #REAL COLLEGE MOVEMENT, A NATIONAL EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS AND REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A STUDENT-READY COLLEGE. THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER FACULTY, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE STRATEGIES TO BETTER ADDRESS STUDENTS' BASIC NEEDS IN A WAY THAT WILL INCREASE PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION. IN 2024, BIS LAUNCHED THE FIRST FOUR COURSES IN THE #REALCOLLEGE CURRICULUM, ON ONLINE RESOURCE FOR EDUCATORS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY EXISTS AND HOW TO ADDRESS IT TO BE USED BY NEARLY 100 FACULTY, STAFF, AND HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS.
  2. $225,446 spent. GREAT LAKES CONSORTIUM - THE GREAT LAKES FAST FUND CONSORTIUM IS MADE UP OF SIX FAST FUND SITES IN ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN WHO HAVE FORMED A COLLABORATION TO PURSUE SYSTEMIC CHANGE. BELIEVE IN STUDENTS HAS LED THIS GROUP TO RUN A PAID STUDENT FELLOWSHIP TO TRAIN AND SUPPORT IMPACTED STUDENTS TO SERVE AS LEADERS IN THIS WORK, AND ORGANIZE FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR CAMPUS POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGES. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED 22 STUDENT FELLOWS (10 IN SPRING, 12 IN FALL) AS THEY DEVELOPED SKILLS; BUILT RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS; AND CREATED COALITIONS AMONG OTHER STUDENT GROUPS.
  3. $137,788 spent. FAST FUND NETWORK - THE FAST FUND IS THE ORGANIZATION'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE SMALL-DOLLAR, FLEXIBLE EMERGENCY AID GRANTS ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THEIR ABILITY TO STAY IN SCHOOL. THE ORGANIZATION DOES THIS BY ORGANIZING A NETWORK OF FACULTY ON CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM LEADERS TO ENGAGE FACULTY, STAFF, AND IMPACTED STUDENTS IN ADDRESSING STUDENT BASIC NEEDS INSECURITY, INCLUDING DISSEMINATING EMERGENCY GRANTS FROM FUNDS RAISED THROUGH BIS AND OTHERS. IN 2024, BIS COORDINATED AND SUPPORTED 30 FAST FUND LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE AND DISTRIBUTE $771,545 TO 2,384 STUDENTS. THIS IS A 21% INCREASE IN STUDENTS SERVED, AND A 43% INCREASE IN FUNDS DISTRIBUTED OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION HAS MADE INVESTMENTS IN IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SUPPORTS IT PROVIDES TO THE VOLUNTEER FAST FUND LEADERS, FOCUSED ON INCREASING EFFICIENCY FOR VOLUNTEER LEADERS AND IMPROVING THEIR ABILITY TO RAISE LOCAL FUNDS.
  4. $8,690 spent. GATHER FOOD HALL IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS BY UTILIZING A PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN MODEL THAT PROVIDES VOUCHERS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTRA SUPPORT AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY BETTER UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES. BIS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A GROUP OF PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO WOULD OWN AND OPERATE THE FOOD HALL, WHILE THE ORGANIZATION WOULD FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL MISSION OF ADDRESSING COLLEGE FOOD INSECURITY AS A NONPROFIT PARTNER TO THE EFFORT. 2024 WAS A MILESTONE YEAR, AS AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FOR THE FOOD HALL TO BE BUILT BY BRANDYWINE REALTY AND OPERATED BY HOSPITALITY HQ, BROUGHT TOGETHER A SERIES OF PARTNERS TO HELP LEARN FROM PAST FAILURES IN MODELS LIKE THIS, AND GENERATE A CONCEPT THAT CAN BE SUSTAINABLE WHILE ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL GOOD. THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN FOCUSING ON ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM OF PROVIDING MEALS, THE EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE GATHER'S PATRONS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT STUDENT MEALS.

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 August 2016.

    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.

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