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Nonprofit · EIN 68-0225053

FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING

Tax-exempt · SANTA BARBARA, CA 93130

Financials

$186K$191K2023$163K$182K2024$170K$242K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$169,628$241,818-$72,190$520,863$6,431$514,432
December 31, 2024990$163,391$181,823-$18,432$593,897$7,275$586,622
December 31, 2023990$185,968$190,937-$4,969$609,999$4,945$605,054
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$29,079
Program service revenue
$137,644
Investment income
$2,579
Net income from sales of inventory
$326
Other revenue
$326

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,300
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$129,862
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$2,493
Occupancy
$16,367
Travel
$5,095
Depreciation
$169
Program services (functional)
$96,728
Management and general (functional)
$133,001
Fundraising (functional)
$12,089

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$593,897
Total assets, end of year
$520,863
Total liabilities, end of year
$6,431
Net assets, end of year
$514,432
Land, buildings and equipment
$218
Gross receipts
$178,758
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Year formed
1990
State of legal domicile
CA

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LINDA ELDER PAULPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
30$1,299
GERARD NOSICHTREASURER
Officer
20$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 2 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LINDA ELDER PAULPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
30$1,299
GERARD NOSICHTREASURER
Officer
20$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 2 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
LINDA ELDER PAULPRESIDENT & CEO
Officer
30$1,299
GERARD NOSICHTREASURER
Officer
20$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 31080, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93130-1080
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
LINDA ELDER PAUL, 2991 KENMORE PLACE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105
Signed the 990
LINDA ELDER PAUL, PRESIDENT & CEO
Phone
(707) 878-9100
Return prepared by
FROST PLLC

California records

California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 68-0225053 or by the name FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING.

Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)

Mission

TO PROMOTE ESSENTIAL CHANGE IN EDUCATION AND SOCIETY THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF FAIR-MINDED CRITICAL THINKING.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • HOSTED ANNUAL CONFERENCE STRUCTURED TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN DEFINING, STRUCTURING, ASSESSING, IMPROVING AND ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES AND BEST PRACTICES OF FAIRMINDED CRITICAL THOUGHT IN EDUCATION AND IN SOCIETY. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO IMPROVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF CRITICAL THINKING, AS WELL AS THEIR ABILITY TO MORE SUBSTANTIVELY FOSTER IT IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR WORK AND LIFE.
    Expenses $66,948 · revenue $96,351
  • HOSTED WORKSHOPS TO FOSTER ESSENTIAL CHANGE IN EDUCATION THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF FAIRMINDED CRITICAL THINKING. THE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN OR DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF CRITICAL THINKING AND TO CONTEXTUALIZE THEM IN THE PARTICIPANT'S WORK OR TEACHING.
    Expenses $29,780 · revenue $41,293

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
68-0225053
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1995
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$520,863
Income (IRS master file)
$178,758

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$169,628$241,818$520,863XML
990-TDecember 2025–––IRS
990December 2024$163,391$181,823$593,897XML
990-TDecember 2024–––IRS
990December 2023$185,968$190,937$609,999XML
990-TDecember 2023–––IRS
990December 2022$200,016$229,323$613,506IRS
990-TDecember 2022–––IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990-TDecember 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-TDecember 2020–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 68-0225053).

Questions about FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING

What is the EIN of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING?
The employer identification number (EIN) of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING is 68-0225053.
Is FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
Are donations to FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names LINDA ELDER PAUL.
Who are the officers and directors of FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 2 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $1,299 (LINDA ELDER PAUL, PRESIDENT & CEO).
How much revenue does FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL THINKING have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $169,628, expenses of $241,818 and total assets of $520,863 at year end.

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