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Waco Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Collaborative Inc

EIN 82-2094253 · Waco, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

START UP WACO IS A TEXAS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED VIA COLLABORATION OF CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS THAT ASPIRE TO LEAD WACO'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT EFFORTS AND ELEVATE WACO AS A HUB FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION.

Income
$10.8 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
7
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$139,276, ceo

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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (3)
  1. $310,463 spent. STARTUP WACO IS BUILDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM OF CENTRAL TEXAS AND ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO EMBRACE A CULTURE OF INNOVATION BY EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS TO BUILD AND GROW SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES A COWORKING ACCELERATOR SPACE IN DOWNTOWN WACO, AND DELIVERS PROGRAMMING AIMED AT THREE MAIN GROUPS OF ENTREPRENEURS: 1. LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, 2. HIGH-GROWTH STARTUPS, AND 3. STUDENTS.
  2. $34,496 spent. FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, THE LARGEST PROGRAM IS OUR WEEKLY ENTREPRENEUR NETWORKING EVENT CALLED THE MEETUP. EACH WEEK, OVER 50 BUSINESS OWNERS GATHER TO NETWORK AND INTRODUCE THEIR PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY. FROM INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THIS PROGRAM WE IMPLEMENT OTHER PROGRAM TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS KEY NEEDS OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR REGION.
  3. $10.5 million spent. FOR STUDENTS, WE OPERATED TWO MAIN PROGRAMS, ONE IS AN ADVISORY PROGRAM AT THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, AND THE OTHER IS CALLED GXG WHICH BEGAN IN JUNE OF 2022. GXG IS A STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS TO LOCAL STUDENT-ATHLETES, AND WORKS DIRECTLY WITH STUDENT-ATHLETES TO PROVIDE BUSINESS EDUCATION SERVICES, ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING. THIS PROGRAM IS FACILITATED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS AND EVENTS, AND HELPS PROVIDE A FOUNDATION TO ANY STUDENT-ATHLETE WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA WHO IS BUILDING A BUSINESS OR ENTREPRENEURIAL FOUNDATION.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.