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Pay It Forward Scholarship Foundation

EIN 86-3816276 · Winterset, IA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceFair50 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WORKING WITH THE WINTERSET COMMUNITY, THE FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE MONETARY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS TO DEVELOP SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE FOUNDATION WILL ACHIEVE THIS PURPOSE BY PROVIDING SUSTAINED ACCESS TO COLLEGE AND/OR POST-SECONDARY JOB TRAINING AND SKILLS. WE WILL FOCUS OUR WORK ON EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR VOICE AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN CHANGING THEIR CURRENT SITUATION.

Income
$56,605
Spending
$9,969
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
0

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

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $5,365 spent. EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED BASED UPON NEED AND TO AT-RISK YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED IN 2025 AND OVER 5,000 OF SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED IN 2025 TO TWO ACTIVE SCHOLARS.

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

  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? Caution.

    Not 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 December 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 March 2022.

    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.