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Pennsylvania Cpa Foundation

EIN 81-5449140 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN ACCOUNTING AND TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, MOTIVATIONAL, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THOSE WORKING TO ATTAIN THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA) CREDENTIAL.

Income
$840,559
Spending
$910,820
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
0
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$462,535, ceo, treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 April 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. $793,384 spent. CPAS WORK IN A MYRIAD OF BUSINESSES AND POSSESS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE. STUDIES SHOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPOSED TO, AND INFLUENCED BY, CPAS ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONSIDER AN ACCOUNTING CAREER. THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO PURSUE AN ACCOUNTING DEGREE. IN ADDITION, THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION PROVIDES FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND CAREER GUIDANCE.A RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS HAVE CHOSEN ACCOUNTING AS A MAJOR IN RECENT YEARS, MANY ARE NOT BECOMING CPAS. THIS HAS CREATED A TALENT GAP IN ACCOUNTING FIRMS OF ALL SIZES. LEADERS OF THE PROFESSION CONTINUE TO CITE TALENT ACQUISITION AND RETENTION AS THEIR MOST CRITICAL CHALLENGE. THE PATH TO BECOME A CPA IS NOT AN EASY ONE. BUT WITH THE RIGHT FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND MOTIVATIONAL SUPPORT, THE JOURNEY CAN BE LESS ONEROUS. THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION WORKS TO DELIVER THAT THROUGH CPA EXAM AND LICENSING INFORMATION, UPDATES TO THE CPA EXAM, CPA EXAM SCHOLARSHIP AND AWARENESS PROGRAMING.WHILE MANY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS REACH AND SUPPORT DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AMONG PROSPECTIVE CPAS, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ASPIRING CPAS FROM CHALLENGING BACKGROUNDS TEND TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES, AND THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN PASSING THE CPA EXAM AND BECOMING LICENSED IS MUCH LOWER. THAT IS WHY THE PENNSYLVANIA CPA FOUNDATION DEVELOPED ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS TARGETING THESE GROUPS, AND THE EMPLOYERS WHO WILL HIRE THEM. SURVEYS SHOW THAT FIRMS AND OTHER EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO FIND TALENT.TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO CONSIDER AN ACCOUNTING CAREER, THE FOUNDATION CONNECTED WITH OVER 11,000 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS THROUGH ITS ACCOUNTING CAREER DISCOVERY, ACCOUNTING OPPORTUNITIES EXPERIENCE, AND ACCOUNTING CAREER DAYS. DURING THESE EVENTS, STUDENTS LEARNED MORE ABOUT CAREERS IN ACCOUNTING THROUGH PRESENTATIONS BY CPAS WHO WORK IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING, CORPORATE FINANCE, GOVERNMENT, AND EDUCATION, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING AN ACCOUNTING DEGREE WITH THE INTENT ON BECOMING A CPA. PER OUR CAREER DAYS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED A 21% INCREASE IN INTEREST IN MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING COMPARED WITH BEFORE THE EVENT. MORE THAN 88% OF STUDENT ATTENDEES COMPLETED THE PROGRAM WITH A POSITIVE VIEW OF ACCOUNTING. TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE PURSUING AN ACCOUNTING CAREER, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED $125,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 122 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. TO FURTHER SUPPORT ASPIRING CPAS, AN ADDITIONAL $13,000 WAS AWARDED TO 13 CPA EXAM CANDIDATES TO HELP COVER THE COST OF THE EXAM FEES AND REVIEW COURSE FEES. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO PROVIDE STUDENT SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THROUGH THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM ON PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 August 2017.

    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.