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The Desca Foundation

EIN 90-1140936 · Hockessin, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DESCA PROGRAMS HELP INNOVATORS AND TECHNOLOGISTS PLUG INTO DELAWARE'S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES, MENTORS AND FUNDING/STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO HELP SPEED THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

Income
$125,757
Spending
$529,265
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
2
Highest pay
$110,000, executive di

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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 71% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 321% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs.

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

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (science, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $77,126 spent. NIH-I-RED GRANT 2025-2026---DESCA PARTNERS WITH INSITEHUB AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE TO DELIVER THE NIH-FUNDED INSITEXCCELERATOR (IX) PROGRAM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST IDEA STATES. DESCA LEADS MARKETING, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TO BUILD AWARENESS AND RECRUIT APPILCANTS FOR BOTH EDUCATION AND PILOT TRACKS. THE TEAM ALSO DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIALIZATION TRAINING CONTENT THAT PREPARES INNOVATORS FOR SBIR AND STTR SUCCESS. 2023-2024 REPRESENTS PHASE 1 OF THE PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM CONTENT AS WELL AS LAUNCHING THE INITIAL PILOT FOR THE PROGRAM.
  2. $303,845 spent. NIH-I-RED GRANT 2024-2025---DESCA PARTNERS WITH INSITEHUB AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE TO DELIVER THE NIH-FUNDED INSITEXCCELERATOR (IX) PROGRAM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST IDEA STATES. DESCA LEADS MARKETING, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TO BUILD AWARENESS AND RECRUIT APPILCANTS FOR BOTH EDUCATION AND PILOT TRACKS. THE TEAM ALSO DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIALIZATION TRAINING CONTENT THAT PREPARES INNOVATORS FOR SBIR AND STTR SUCCESS.
  3. $59,121 spent. CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK---DESCA'S TECH2MARKET PROGRAM, ARRANGED THROUGH A CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK, PROVIDES U. S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRANT FUNDING TO ACCELERATE COMMERCIALIZATION FOR EARLY-STAGE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VENTURES AND RAISE AWARENESS OF INNOVATION IN THE GREATER DELAWARE AREA. DESCA DEVELOPS CURRICULUM, PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, MANAGES OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT, AND HOSTS ECOSYSTEM EVENTS, ROUNDTABLES, AND INVESTOR SHOWCASES CONNECTING STARTUPS TO MENTOR, MARKET DATA, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2016 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2016.

    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 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 May 2018.

    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: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. 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.