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Ethos Inc

EIN 91-2094413 · Elkhart, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE COMMUNITIES AS STEM EXPERTS AND LEADERS IN INNOVATION AND EDUCATION.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
60%
Reserves
-2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
40
Volunteers
385
Highest pay
$156,600, ceo

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: 28 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    60% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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

Strong: 94 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (science, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (5)
  1. $464,184 spent. GRADE LEVEL CERTIFIED (GLC) IS ETHOS'S NATIONALLY ALIGNED, HANDS-ON SCIENCE CURRICULUM FOR PREK-6 CLASSROOMS. GLC PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH STANDARDS- BASED LAB LESSONS THAT INTEGRATE SCIENCE, LITERACY, AND STEM CAREER CONNECTIONS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, ETHOS CONTINUED TO SCALE GLC ADOPTION THROUGH SCHOOL AND DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS.
  2. $94,382 spent. ETHOS IN A BAG (EIB) PROVIDES HANDS-ON STEM LAB EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS THROUGH CAMPS, FIELD TRIPS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND AT-HOME LEARNING. EACH EIB LAB INCLUDES ALL CONSUMABLE MATERIALS NEEDED FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS THROUGH GUIDED EXPERIMENTATION. EIB EXPANDS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY STEM LEARNING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM AND SERVES STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, ETHOS FACILITATED EIB PROGRAMMING ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SETTINGS, SUPPORTING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHILE REINFORCING FOUNDATIONAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND CURIOSITY-DRIVEN EXPLORATION.
  3. $283,703 spent. SEA RESEARCH PROVIDES CONSUMABLE STEM LEARNING MATERIALS TO STUDENTS THROUGH PARTNERSIPS WITH NATIONAL SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING AQUARIUMS AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. THESE MATERIALS SUPPORT HANDS- ON EXPLORATION OF MARINE SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND EXTEND STEM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ENRICHMENT AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, ETHOS CONTINUED TO SUPPLY SEA RESEARCH MATERIALS IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING STEM ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES.
  4. $120,592 spent. OTHER PROGRAM REVENUES AND EXPENSES
  5. GRADE LEVEL CERTIFIED (GLC) IS ETHOS'S NATIONALLY ALIGNED, STANDARDS-BASED SCIENCE CURRICULUM FOR PREK-6 CLASSROOMS. GLC PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH HANDS-ON, CONSUMABLE LAB LESSONS THAT ALIGN TO NATIONAL SCIENCE STANDARDS AND INTEGRATE LITERACY, VOCABULARY, AND REAL-WORLD STEM CAREER CONNECTIONS. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO BE TEACHER-DRIVEN AND STUDENT-FOCUSED, SUPPORTING CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. GLC IS DELIVERED AS EARNED PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE THROUGH SCHOOL AND DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS AND IS A CORE COMPONENT OF ETHOS'S LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, ETHOS CONTINUED TO SCALE GLC ADOPTION ACROSS MULTIPLE SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS, INVESTING IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, MATERIALS, FULFILLMENT, AND TEACHER SUPPORT TO MEET GROWING DEMAND.

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 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 June 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 July 2001.

    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.