Connectup Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The ConnectUP! Integrated Capital Fund ICF is a charitable fund that addresses the gap in access to $70M capital resources and networks to increase local BIPOC ownership of businesses in the Twin Cities Metro area. ICF provides early second-stage entrepreneurs with flexible and patient hybrid capital grants debt equity fractional executive FTE support and mindset coaching. ICF disrupts the traditional capitalist credit system which has failed Black and Brown entrepreneurs and is the ONLY woman-led fund driven by economic justice with wealth creation and restorative finance as its core values. -CEO Circles are small group learning sessions on a specific business topic facilitated by a culturally responsive subject matter expert. In each circle founders come together in working sessions to hack their most pressing business issues build fellowship and leverage collective wisdom. -The LevelUP! Digital Platform provides culturally grounded courses and toolkits
- Income
- $638,171
- Spending
- $529,780
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $81,302, president
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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (4)
- $85,580 spent. Capital Readiness provides training and and coaches to prepare entrepreneurs to be ready to access capital in the marketplace. Training includes business operations accounting and financial operations and marketing.
- $123,048 spent. Integrated Capital Fund provides access to capital to qualified candidates through loans and equity infusions.
- $90,243 spent. Lunar-works with startup businesses to train and ready them for the next steps in their organizational and financial development; providing them with next steps to access capital to expand their businesses.
- $45,627 spent. Connectup Institute provides financial and management training services as well as an annual meeting to connect entrepreneurs to investors and lending institutions.
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 December 2020.
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.