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Malibu Education Foundation

EIN 99-1029697 · Malibu, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MALIBU EDUCATION FOUNDATION (MEF) IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ENHANCING THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FOR EVERY STUDENT IN MALIBU'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY FUNDING ESSENTIAL STAFF AND PROGRAMS, LIKE INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, TUTORS, AND ARTS TEACHERS, THAT AREN'T COVERED BY DISTRICT BUDGETS, ENSURING STUDENTS THRIVE ACEDEMICALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND CREATIVELY.

Income
$488,140
Spending
$526,550
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 65%
Employees
0
Volunteers
10

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

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

  • 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 (6)
  1. $319,088 spent. ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES: THE FOUNDATION FUNDED FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES AT EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MALIBU, SUPPORTING THE TEACHING STAFF AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL HELP TO STUDENTS TO ENSURE GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY.
  2. $92,458 spent. ELEMENTARY ARTS EDUCATION: THE FOUNDATION COVERED THE COST OF ARTS EDUCATION IN BOTH PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN MALIBU, ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO AN OUTLET FOR CREATIVE SELF-EXPRESSION.
  3. $44,702 spent. MALIBU MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STAFF: THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED ITS SUPPORT TO FUND SUPPORT STAFF AT THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS NOT FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING A COMMUNITY SERVICE LIAISON TO ENABLE STUDENT CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY, A MUSICAL ACCOMPANIST TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO A STRONG ARTS PROGRAM, STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACHES TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES WITH THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO EXCEL. THE COST OF THE MATH TUTORS WAS ASSUMED BY THE DISTRICT THIS FY DUE TO THE FIRES, AND EXTREME NEED FOR LEARNING RECOVERY.
  4. $23,257 spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS: THE FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTED TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS PROGRAM IT FOUNDED BY FUNDING EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS AND COACHES, WITH THE MAJOR COST OF THE ATHLETIC COORDINATOR NOW FUNDED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN YEAR 2. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO NO-CUT, NO-COST, INTERSCHOLASTIC AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS. THIS ENCOURAGED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THEIR PEERS AND ROLE MODEL COACHES, AND WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AFTER THE DEVASTATING PALISADES FIRE.
  5. THE FOUNDATION FUNDED FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES AT EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MALIBU, SUPPORTING THE TEACHING STAFF TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HELP TO STUDENTS TO ENSURE GRADE-LEVEL PROFICIENCY.
  6. THE FOUNDATION LAUNCHED AND FUNDED A MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS PROGRAM, FOR THE SPRING SEASON OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO PROVIDE ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO NO-CUT, NO-COST, INTERSCHOLASTIC AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS. THIS ENCOURAGED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THEIR PEERS AND ROLE MODEL COACHES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Educational Foundation Inc (Chapel Hill, NC), EIN 56-6058412. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.