Educate
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Educate! is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 2005 under the laws of the State of Colorado with operations in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania for the purpose of preparing youth in Africa with the skills to succeed in today's economy. Educate! creates a core learning experience that delivers essential skills youth need to transition to work, particularly in Africa's huge informal economy. This experience combines skills training, mentorship, and practical experience starting a business. Educate! delivers this experience by:1) introducing an employment-focused school subject in secondary education, and2) delivering livelihood boot camps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women.
- Income
- $9.8 million
- Spending
- $11.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 9.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 322
- Highest pay
- $147,483, ceo and co-founder
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (1)
- $10.7 million spent. Educate! is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 2005 under the laws of the State of Colorado with operations in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya for the purpose of preparing youth in Africa with the skills to succeed in today's economy. Educate!'s mission is to develop young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa. Educate! delivers a practical and relevant model of education to youth in Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya, comprised of a leadership and entrepreneurship course, interactive teaching, intensive mentorship, experience starting an enterprise.Educate! delivers this experience by:1) introducing an employment-focused school subject in secondary education, and2) delivering livelihood boot camps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women.
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 October 13, 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 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 2024.
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 April 2005.
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.