Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Jefferson Economic Developement Institute

EIN 91-1764897 · Mount Shasta, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JEDI'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL WEALTH CREATION. THROUGH THIS MISSION, JEDI IS ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF RURAL POVERTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SINCE 1996 IT HAS SUPPORTED OVER 6,700 PEOPLE IN GROWING A BUSINESS, CREATED 1,700 BUSINESSES AND JOBS, AND 70 HAVE RECEIVED FINANCING OF APPROXIMATELY 7.6 MILLION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 58%
Employees
12
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$88,333, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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. $964,293 spent. THE JEFFERSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (JEDI) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL WEALTH CREATION. JEDI ASSISTS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES TO THRIVE FINANCIALLY BY BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES AND ASSETS. OVER THE PAST 27 YEARS, JEDI HAS SERVED OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO STARTED OVER 1,300 BUSINESSES AND ADDED NEW JOBS IN THIS RURAL FRONTIER REGION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. JEDI HAS BROUGHT CLOSE TO 8 MILLION INTO THE COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTED BUSINESSES TO ACQUIRE OVER 15,000,000 IN BUSINESS CAPITAL. JEDI HOSTS AN SBA-DESIGNATED WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER SINCE 2014 WHICH SERVES A 4-COUNTY REGION IN NORTHERN CA. JEDI ALSO HOSTS AN IRS-DESIGNATED FREE TAX PREPARATION SITE CALLED VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE). JEDI ALSO HOSTS THE MOUNT SHASTA FARMERS' MARKET SERVING RANCHERS AND FARMERS THROUGHOUT SISKIYOU COUNTY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS. THE JEFFERSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (JEDI) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL WEALTH CREATION. JEDI ASSISTS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES TO THRIVE FINANCIALLY BY BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES AND ASSETS. OVER THE PAST 27 YEARS, JEDI HAS SERVED OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO STARTED OVER 1,300 BUSINESSES AND ADDED NEW JOBS IN THIS RURAL FRONTIER REGION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. JEDI HAS BROUGHT CLOSE TO 8 MILLION INTO THE COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTED BUSINESSES TO ACQUIRE OVER 15,000,000 IN BUSINESS CAPITAL. JEDI HOSTS AN SBA-DESIGNATED WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER SINCE 2014 WHICH SERVES A 4-COUNTY REGION IN NORTHERN CA. JEDI ALSO HOSTS AN IRS-DESIGNATED FREE TAX PREPARATION SITE CALLED VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE). JEDI ALSO HOSTS THE MOUNT SHASTA FARMERS' MARKET SERVING RANCHERS AND FARMERS THROUGHOUT SISKIYOU COUNTY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 November 6, 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 September 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 August 1997.

    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 November 4, 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.