Los Alamitos Education Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Partner with the Los Alamitos Unified School District to provide initiatives, programs and funding for programs that measurably improve student achievement throughout the District's schools.
- Income
- $2.2 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 3.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 81%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 130
- Highest pay
- $154,812, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 74 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $1.1 million spent. After school enrichment programs including arts programs for grades K-12, including free Elementary Spanish classes. Students who were eligible for the "Free or Reduced Lunch" program with the district are automatically awarded a reduction in fees.
- $388,717 spent. Summer sports camps and summer camps in the arts. Los Alamitos Unified School District coaches and directors team up with LAEF to provide camps for children from grades K-12. Camps vary in length from one week to seven weeks and take place on district campuses. Sports camps include basketball, soccer, volleyball, track and field and more. Camps in the arts include show choir and dance.
- $321,033 spent. Donations to the school district. LAEF believes in audacious goals and its current programs are just the beginning. As LAEF grows, the sucess of students and the greater community will grow. LAEF is always looking to offer more specialized classes to stay ahead of the curve on enriching minds and inspiring success. LAEF is continuing to raise funds for the district to use as needs are constantly evolving; whether it continues to be targeting teachers or a new program forseen by district administration, staff or parents.
- $270,439 spent. Summer Enrichment Institute (SEI) offers four weeks of education to students to offset the "Summer Learning Loss". Small class sizes of 18 students maximum provide a jumpstart to the students' next year of learning for elementary and high school students. Classes offered include STEAM, world languages, art, ahletics and more.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1986.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.