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Douglas County Educational Foundation

EIN 84-1165175 · Castle Rock, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO GENERATE AND DISTRIBUTE FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES TO THE LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROJECTS AIMED AT ENHANCING QUALITY AND EQUITY OF EDUCATION AND PROVIDING LEARNERS OF ALL AGES WITH GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR FULL PARTICIPATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
7
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$138,001, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $5.1 million spent. THE DCEF CHAPTER PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF SCHOOL BASED CHAPTERS WHICH PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF STUDENTS WITHIN THEIR SPECIFIC SCHOOL A SITE-BASED VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE REPRESENTING PARENTS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANAGE THE SCHOOL CHAPTERS THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTED 85 CHAPTERS THE FOUNDATION SHARES IT 501C3 STATUS WITH ITS CHAPTERS AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THEIR GROUPS
  2. $412,219 spent. THE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM OF DCEF CONSISTS OF FUNDING IN THE FORM OF GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHOOLS, DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS AND INCLUDE SPECIAL FUNDING REQUESTS, FIELD TRIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STAFF, TECHNOLOGY GRANTS, AND MATCHING GRANTS FROM EMPLOYERS. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSIST WITH THE FUNDING FOR AREAS IN NEED. THE APPLE AWARDS IS AN ANNUAL BANQUET HOSTED BY THE DCEF FOR THE DISTRICT TO HONOR BOTH CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THERE IS A FORMAL NOMINATION PROCESS, AND EACH SITE OR DEPARTMENT SUBMITS APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. A SELECTION COMMITTEE THEN SELECTS THE FINALISTS AND WINNERS ARE THEN CHOSEN ON A POINTS BASIS. THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED WITH THEIR SITE ADMINISTRATORS TO THE BANQUET WHERE THE WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED AND PRESENTED WITH AN AWARD. SPONSOR ARE SECURED TO COVER THE COST OF THE EVENT AND ADDITIONAL GUEST MAY PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE EVENT. THE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM OF DCEF CONSISTS OF FUNDING IN THE FORM OF GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SCHOOLS, DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS AND INCLUDE SPECIAL FUNDING REQUESTS, FIELD TRIPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STAFF, TECHNOLOGY GRANTS, AND MATCHING GRANTS FROM EMPLOYERS. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSIST WITH THE FUNDING FOR AREAS IN NEED. THE APPLE AWARDS IS AN ANNUAL BANQUET HOSTED BY THE DCEF FOR THE DISTRICT TO HONOR BOTH CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED STAFF THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THERE IS A FORMAL NOMINATION PROCESS, AND EACH SITE OR DEPARTMENT SUBMITS APPLICATIONS FOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. A SELECTION COMMITTEE THEN SELECTS THE FINALISTS AND WINNERS ARE THEN CHOSEN ON A POINTS BASIS. THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED WITH THEIR SITE ADMINISTRATORS TO THE BANQUET WHERE THE WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED AND PRESENTED WITH AN AWARD. SPONSOR ARE SECURED TO COVER THE COST OF THE EVENT AND ADDITIONAL GUEST MAY PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE EVENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 2025.

    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 August 1991.

    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.