Education Fellowship Initiative Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 47% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Provide current and aspiring pastors worldwide with training and education in biblical literacy and foundational theology
- Income
- $590,520
- Spending
- $592,056
- Spent on programs
- 47%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 3
- Highest pay
- $110,000, officer
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
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 48% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1547% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
0 of 250 of 0 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
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 (3)
- Assisting with construction of seminary in Liberia This includes building educational facilities, providing intensive teaching and pastoral care, and supplying scholarly resources in the native language of the students Pastoral training in our facilities primarily occurs at night, several times a week. When not being used for training, the facility supports four income sources that generate revenue and positively impact the local economy. This includes employing 50 local individuals to administer a concrete plant, a bakery, and a coffee shop. Buildings are managed by indigenous pastors and owned by a local nonprofit organization once construction is completed.
- Establishing a teaching program in Liberia related to seminary training The core mission of EFI starts with opening schools We support aspiring pastors by giving them access to a degree of education that has not been available to them in their area before. To do this we partner with local seminary trained pastors who are called by the Lord to invest in other pastors, teach them, and disciple them so that the concept of a school complex can be built around that individual. EFI will make several investments in regional pastors after a school has been constructed Specific to our school in Libera, EFI will foster other ministries focused on child literacy, economic renewal, and leadership training, as well as a children's ministry with playgrounds.
- Church partner investment and education Part of what we do on the US side is take the time to help a church establish a missions programs if they do not have one already We are in the process of doing this for three of our partner churches
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 2025.
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 October 2022.
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.