Founders Arena Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind the future; with proper support, that future can be realized even more rapidly. To support this, we established The Founders Arena (TFA), a ground-breaking public-private initiative based in Arlington, Texas, dedicated to co-creating the future of wealth management. Launched in September 2023, the WealthTech Accelerator supports startups at the forefront of revolutionizing the wealth management industry. This commitment to advancing innovation extends beyond WealthTech, driving local development and fostering innovation throughout the City of Arlington and North Texas.
- Income
- $822,313
- Spending
- $771,385
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 83%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 6
- Highest pay
- $138,000, president
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 254 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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, 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)
- $604,110 spent. THE FOUNDERS ARENA IS A NONPROFIT WEALTHTECH GROWTH STRATEGY ACCELERATOR BASED IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS EARLY-GROWTH AND POST-REVENUE STARTUPS BY CONNECTING FOUNDERS WITH INVESTORS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, MENTORS, AND OTHER STRATEGIC RESOURCES.DURING 2025, THE FOUNDERS ARENA WELCOMED AN ADDITIONAL 12 COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD INTO ITS PROGRAMMING. BY YEAR-END, THE ORGANIZATION HAD COMPLETED SIX COHORTS AND SUPPORTED A TOTAL OF 30 COMPANIES THROUGH ITS COHORT AND PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED FOUNDER EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, STRATEGIC ADVISORY SUPPORT, INVESTOR AND CORPORATE INTRODUCTIONS, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING, AND EVENTS DESIGNED TO ADVANCE WEALTHTECH INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH.IN ADDITION TO ITS COHORT WORK, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PROGRAMMING AND ECOSYSTEM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TEXAS VENTURE FEST, TWO HACKATHONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING WITH FOUNDERS, INVESTORS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, CIVIC LEADERS, UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER ECOSYSTEM PARTICIPANTS. THESE ACTIVITIES HELPED EXPAND THE ORGANIZATIONS LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL NETWORK WHILE SUPPORTING ARLINGTON AND NORTH TEXAS AS A GROWING CENTER FOR WEALTHTECH AND INNOVATION.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2023.
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 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.