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Partners for Better Futures

EIN 82-2274818 · Los Altos, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak36 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Partners for Better Futures (PBF) helps improve the lives of poor people around the world, primarily focusing on children and education. PBF does this by partnering with local organizations that are deeply involved in their own communities, and participating in carefully evaluated projects and programs. There are three continuing programs within PBF: Build a School in Burma (BSB), Build a School in India (BSI), and APC School Philippines (APC). In FY 2025 BSB made grants for new buildings for several schools, and made grants for projects including water and sanitation systems, and solar lighting systems. BSI made grants to support education for underserved children in India. APC made grants to the APC School in the Philippines.

Income
$754,095
Spending
$699,499
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$26,192, country director - burma

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 36 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 June 30, 2026, 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. $230,521 spent. The "Build a School in Burma" (BSB) program makes grants to support construction of school buildings in Myanmar. These grants have been fewer since the Febuary 2021 coup, which upended much of the country. This year BSB also supported education for Myanmar refugees, by making grants for construction of "Community Learning Centers" in bordering countries, primarily Thailand. BSB also provided help to schools that needed new furniture and sanitary facilities to support growing enrollments, and helped repair existing buildings. Overall, BSB has worked to provide safe, secure learning environments for students in poor, underserved communities, including refugees.
  2. $98,550 spent. "APC School" program made grants to support ongoing operations of Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC) which provides an integrated and holistic education for the indigenous children and youth along the Pantaron Range of Mindanao, Philippines. The APC school works to promote and deepen cultural understanding while providing approximately 400 indigenous children with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently relate with mainstream Philippine society and advance in the formal education ladder.
  3. $368,742 spent. The Build a School in India (BSI) program made several grants to increase access to education primarily to disadvantaged students in rural India. This included the following grants: Anandakshan; ASHA Action Self Reliance Hope; Cochlea Pune Hearing & Speech; Holistic Education Mission; Kiran Educational Trust - Foundation Academy; Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratishtha; Sondara; Spandan School; Srotoshwini Trust; and Unnatia Institute. Each of these organizations met India's strict criteria under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) The FCRA is the primary legal framework regulating how India's non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charities, and individuals receive and utilize foreign funding. Regulated strictly by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the laws ensure that foreign funds are used for approved social, educational, religious, cultural, or economic purposes and do not impact national security.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 June 2026.

    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 September 2018.

    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 November 4, 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.