Helios Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
- Income
- $52.4 million
- Spending
- $39.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 100%
- Employees
- 39
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $724,642, president and ceo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 52% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs.
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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 13 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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)
- $32.4 million spent. HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA TO ACHIEVE A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. THE FOUNDATION'S WORK IS DRIVEN BY ITS FOUR FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS: 1) COMMUNITY - EDUCATION CHANGES LIVES AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITIES. 2) INVESTMENT - EDUCATION IS AN INVESTMENT, NOT AN EXPENSE. 3) EQUITY - EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, DESERVES A HIGH- QUALITY EDUCATION. 4) PARTNERSHIP - THE FOUNDATION WILL ACHIEVE ITS MISSION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. HELIOS INVESTS IN PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ACROSS THE FULL EDUCATION CONTINUUM, FROM EARLY GRADE SUCCESS THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. HELIOS PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE FOUNDATION'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION IS LONG-TERM AND ITS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS FOCUSED ON INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SPECIFICALLY IMPACT THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS. DURING FY25, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION IN GRANTS AND $975 THOUSAND IN IN-KIND GIVING TO EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA. THIS FUNDING AND IN-KIND GIVING PROVIDED SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NON-PROFITS THAT IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF AND ACCESS TO EDUCATION. Helios Education Foundation has a purposeful focus on results. Our Impact Strategy focuses on three key drivers essential to getting students on track for college attainment: Ensure that students are reading by the third grade; Increase college enrollments; and Increase attainment of two- and four-year college degrees.
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
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 October 13, 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 September 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 February 1983.
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 October 21, 2026.
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