Nonprofit · EIN 77-0575573
THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · PALO ALTO, CA 94306
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $396,347 | $333,714 | $62,633 | $1,308,700 | $31,193 | $1,277,507 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $245,650 | $348,582 | -$102,932 | $1,171,048 | $26,009 | $1,145,039 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $311,417
- Program service revenue
- $50,973
- Investment income
- $33,957
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $13,642
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $5,895
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $194,744
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $207,850
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $5,275
- Travel
- $19,661
- Program services (functional)
- $237,261
- Management and general (functional)
- $94,932
- Fundraising (functional)
- $1,521
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,171,048
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,308,700
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $31,193
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,277,507
- Publicly traded securities
- $1,204,438
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,277,507
- Gross receipts
- $711,147
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 56
- Year formed
- 2001
- 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, 2024, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRIS SPETZLER | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $151,138 | $4,406 |
| Dana Luco | Secretary Officer | 1 | $39,200 | $0 |
| RONALD A HOWARD | President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARL S SPETZLER | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeff DeFranco | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| michael carter | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID HECKERMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS KEELIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| ANDREW DEY | Chairman Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Sharon Swann | Treasurer Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHRIS SPETZLER | Executive Dir. Officer | 40 | $131,420 | $4,140 |
| Dana Luco | Secretary Officer | 1 | $49,812 | $0 |
| RONALD A HOWARD | President Trustee or director, Officer | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| CARL S SPETZLER | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jeff DeFranco | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| michael carter | Chairman Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID HECKERMAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS KEELIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Sharon Swann | Treasurer Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 445 COLLEGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306-1525
- In care of
- % RONALD A HOWARD
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- CHRIS SPETZLER, 1680 White Oak Way, San Carlos, CA 94070
- Signed the 990
- CHRIS SPETZLER, Executive Director
- Phone
- (650) 814-9616
- Website
- WWW.DECISIONEDUCATION.ORG
- Return prepared by
- Boggeln & Company Inc
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 77-0575573 or by the name THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY EMPOWERING THEM WITH EFFECTIVE DECISION SKILLS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TRAINING AND CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS.
Program accomplishments
- ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: DEF CONDUCTED WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND FACULTY AT SCHOOLS TO DEMONSTRATE THE TEACHING OF DECISION SKILLS. THESE INTERACTIONS DEVELOPED NEW IDEAS AND NEW TEACHING TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING DECISION SKILLS, with the addition of new audience types. For example, DEF DEF created the Positive Pathways program, which can be integrated into juvenile diversion scenarios. It enhances their decision-making framework with tailored activities that may be more fruitful in creating more responsible citizens than the traditional court programming.Expenses $197,322 · grants $600 · revenue $473
- HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES PROGRAM: For a fourth year, a partner school delivered DEFs college and career readiness and health-specific curriculum, throughout the first and second semesters. DEF created relevant materials that received positive feedback from the teachers. The HLC program reached about 200 9th grade students. The students received community college credit for completing the course.Expenses $16,167 · grants $95 · revenue $25,000
- STRONGSTART PROGRAM: DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION "DEF" continues to implement the train the teacher model for delivering a 5-day academic camp organized around Decision Skills. About 300 students and about 8 teachers across 3 repeat high schools participated in the program. One student liked the program so much that he wanted to be the teacher in 2025. These schools have implemented the StrongStart program for multiple years.Expenses $12,065 · grants $5,200 · revenue $14,000
- SCHOOL-WIDE TRAINING: DEF provided consulting services and training to the students, teachers, and leadership on the Decision Quality model for a district partner. With everyone having shared decision-making language and a framework, its easier to employ concepts and tools when school-wide decisions are made, when teachers make decisions in their classrooms, when students are selecting classes,extracurriculars, post-graduation plans, etc.Expenses $11,707 · revenue $11,500
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | Not on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 77-0575573
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2002
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B19)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,308,700
- Income (IRS master file)
- $711,147
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2024 | $396,347 | $333,714 | $1,308,700 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $245,650 | $348,582 | $1,171,048 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $355,832 | $381,489 | $1,130,241 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2017 | – | – | – | 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 77-0575573).
Questions about THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION is 77-0575573.
- Is THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2002.
- Are donations to THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION 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 THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
- Who is the principal officer of THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names CHRIS SPETZLER.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 10 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $151,138 (CHRIS SPETZLER, Executive Dir.).
- How much revenue does THE DECISION EDUCATION FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $396,347, expenses of $333,714 and total assets of $1,308,700 at year end.
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