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Kulia Education Foundation

EIN 88-3201428 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF KULIA EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN HAWAII BY PROVIDING CHARITABLE, FINANCIAL, AND PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES. THE FOUNDATION ADVANCES STUDENT SUCCESS BY SECURING AND DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES THROUGH FUNDRAISING, GRANT SUPPORT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, DONATED SERVICES AND MATERIALS, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE THAT HELP SUSTAIN HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL OPERATIONS.

Income
$806,279
Spending
$850,843
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
7
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$67,281, director

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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 100% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $747,834 spent. KULIA EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTED THE SUCCESSFUL OPENING AND FIRST YEAR OF OPERATIONS OF KULIA ACADEMY, A HAWAII PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DEDICATED TO PREPARING A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE FOUNDATION HELPED SUPPORT THE ACADEMY THROUGH GRANT FUNDING,PAYROLL SUPPORT, DONATED EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES, AND OTHER OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE. THESE EFFORTS HELPED THE ACADEMY PROVIDE INSTRUCTION, STUDENT SUPPORT, AND SCHOOL OPERATIONS DURING ITS FIRST YEAR, WITH A CONTINUED FOCUS ON RELEVANT LEARNING, HANDSON EXPERIENCES, AND FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2022.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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.