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Fund for Portland Public Schools

EIN 84-2040549 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak21 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FUND FOR PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS (FUND FOR PPS) IS TO SUPPORT PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF OREGON SERVING 44,000 STUDENTS, BY BUILDING A ROBUST GENEROSITY NETWORK, STEWARDING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS & PARTNERSHIPS, AND MANAGING THE CHAMPION PPS SCHOOLS INITIATIVE. THE FUND FOR PPS FOCUSES ON BUILDING AND ACCELERATING THE IDENTIFICATION, CULTIVATION, AND STRENGTHENING OF STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO WILL SERVE AS INVESTMENT PARTNERS IN A CITYWIDE MOVEMENT TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. LOCATED WITHIN MULTNOMAH COUNTY, THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE FUNCTION IS TO CREATE, COORDINATE, AND FACILITATE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS THAT FOSTER EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS FOR PPS STUDENTS. THE FUND FOR PPS SERVES ALL THE STUDENTS OF PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Income
$653,135
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
5

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

Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 75% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 141% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 86% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $930,000 spent. THE FUND FOR PPS LAUNCHED CHAMPION PPS SCHOOLS. THE PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC) FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF DONATIONS FOR STAFFING, A GROUP OF NINE PARENTS AND TWO STUDENTS, ANALYZED PRIORITIES AND WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT. WITH $930,000 TO ALLOCATE FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR, THE PAC RECOMMENDED THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENTS THAT WERE THEN APPROVED BY THE PPS BOARD OF EDUCATION ON MAY 6, 2025: HIGH IMPACT TUTORING $660,000; MATH SUPPORTS FOR 9TH AND 10TH GRADERS DISTICTWIDE $70,000; FOOD PANTRIES IN 20 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS $200,000.
  2. $354,144 spent. THE FUND FOR PPS SECURED $354,144 FROM PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC (PGE) ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS WITH THE AWARD. THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE CLIMATE CRISIS RESPONSE POLICY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND IS PAVING THE WAY FOR REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS AND BEING CARBON-NEUTRAL BY 2040.
  3. $38,500 spent. THE FUND PROVIDED DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $226,100 TO PPS FAMILIES FACING EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS THROUGH PPS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND STUDENT SUCCESS ADVOCATES.
  4. $187,570 spent. THE FUND DISTRIBUTED 182,570 TO PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SUPPORT OF VARIOUS STUDENT CENTERED PROGRAMS. FUNDS WERE PASSED THROUGH TO THE DISTRICT TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT NEEDS.

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 November 2019.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Fund for Public Schools Inc (New York, NY), EIN 11-2656137. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.