Startedup Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EMPOWER STUDENTS BY IMMERSING THEM INTO THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WAY OF BEING, INSPIRING THEM TO START SOMETHING NEW, MENTORING THEM THROUGH NEW VENTURES.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 5.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 110
- Highest pay
- $119,671, 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 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $707,726 spent. ECOSYSTEM BUILD PROJECT - IN INDIANA, THE FINANCIAL RUNWAY FOR ENTREPRENEURS DRAMATICALLY INCREASES WHEN THEY ARE CONNECTED TO RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BY FACILITATING COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE STATE OF INDIANA, BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, AND OUR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, WE HELP INDIANA TO BUILD THE MOST CONNECTED ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. THESE CONNECTIONS CREATE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT, ALL WORKING TO FOSTER SUPPORT AND GROW BUSINESSES IN OUR HOOSIER COMMUNITIES.
- $317,654 spent. INNOVATE WITHIN IS A STATEWIDE HIGH SCHOOL PITCH COMPETITION THAT CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS AND DEVELOP INNOVATIVE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS. DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MENTORSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO SEED FUNDING. STUDENTS COMPETE THROUGH REGIONAL AND STATE-LEVEL EVENTS, GAINING CRITICAL SKILLS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMMUNICATION, AND COLLABORATION WHILE CONNECTING WITH INDIANA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM.
- $233,045 spent. THE STARTEDUP INNOVATION EDUCATOR FELLOWSHIP IS A YEAR-LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATORS TO BECOME INNOVATION LEADERS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, ONGOING COACHING, AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, TEACHERS GAIN TOOLS TO EMBED ENTREPRENEURSHIP, REAL-WORLD PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTO THEIR CLASSWORK. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS EDUCATORS TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND OPPORTUNITIES, BUILDING PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND STRENGTHENING LOCAL TALENT PIPELINES.
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
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 December 2024.
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 2019.
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.