Monster Education Foundation NFP
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Monster Education Foundation exists in order to carefully select and invest in the most promising young leaders in some of the most under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago's South and West sides known for high crime and low educational outcomes. We empower them to be servant leaders in the community starting now while equipping them for life beyond high school through programming and funding scholarships for post secondary education.
- Income
- $171,990
- Spending
- $64,893
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 84.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $7,200, chief operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 84.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 62% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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 (4)
- $22,773 spent. Academic Program: Every Monster Scholar who enrolls in the program as a sixth grader receives a college scholarship account from MEF. Scholars may increase their scholarship accounts by giving back to their communities, participating in MEF events, and reporting their report card grades. The balance grows until the student graduates from high school. Scholars can earn over $2,500 each year. The matured scholarship is distributed equally among installments made annually upon acceptance to an accredited post-secondary school. MEF awarded a total of about $18,500 in scholarship expenses (disbursement for college tuition and related fees) to twelve (12) students, accounting for 81% of the expenses in the academic program.
- $13,255 spent. Leadership Program: The MEF leadership program's primary purpose is to equip our students to be change agents and servant leaders in their communities. Each year, one of the primary activities that does this is the leadership conference. The 2025 leadership conference was held in October. During the Leadership Conference, students were paired with adult mentors who guided them through the Life Game, a simulation of living as an adult for a month. Scholars faced the difficulties of making sound financial decisions with the goal of "staying in the black" at the end of the game. They gained excellent financial insights from their various experiences. A total of about thirty persons (30) attended, including scholars, other teenagers, and adults.
- $4,991 spent. College Preparation- The purpose is to get our scholars ready for their post secondary ventures. We have several events throughout the year, outlined below are the 2 major event:1) College prep conference: Each class of scholars participates in a workshop specific to their needs. Some topics have included Career identification for 7th and 8th graders, Launching into the college experience for 12th graders. 2) College visits: MEF allows our scholars to visit a college campus. We provide reimbursement of up to $200 per scholar. We encourage our scholars to visit at least two schools of interest to learn more about the university and to experience the college campus.
- $10,250 spent. MEF has other programs such as the Mentorship program, Outreach to the Community, Scholar Incentives, Social Bonding programs and Monster Opportunities.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on October 15, 2018.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2018.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.