Grovefund is committed to transparency with our donors, sponsors, parents, and the broader public. This page consolidates the regulatory and financial disclosures required to support informed giving.
Organizational Status
- Legal form: Grovefund is a U.S. nonprofit project of Adkins Labs. Grovefund has filed, or is in the process of filing, IRS Form 1023 for recognition as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
- 501(c)(3) status:Pending. Pending IRS determination, contributions are accepted through fiscal sponsorship. The fiscal sponsor's name and EIN will be listed on your donation receipt.
- Tax deductibility: Contributions to Grovefund are intended to be tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Retroactive deduction status (to the date of incorporation) is customary upon IRS approval, but not guaranteed.
- Annual reporting: Once our gross receipts exceed the IRS threshold, we will file Form 990 annually and make it publicly available here and via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and Candid.
State Charitable Solicitation Registrations
Many U.S. states require nonprofits to register before soliciting donations from residents. Grovefund is actively registering in all required states using the Unified Registration Statement (URS) process. This page will be updated with our current registration status.
- Currently registered in: (rolling — check back)
- Pending: All states that require registration. If you are a resident of a state where we are not yet registered, your donation remains lawful and we will acknowledge it under applicable federal rules.
Residents of: Florida, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin — contact your state's Attorney General or Secretary of State to obtain a copy of Grovefund's registration as soon as it is effective in your state.
Approved Charitable Uses of Fund Balances
Fund balances are restricted by Grovefund's charitable purpose to educational expenses. Approved categories include:
- Tuition at accredited K-12, trade/vocational, undergraduate, and graduate programs;
- Licensed or credentialed tutoring services;
- Required textbooks, workbooks, lab fees, and educational software;
- Laptops, tablets, and required technology for education;
- Standardized test fees and test-prep materials;
- Accredited childcare and preschool;
- Reasonable transportation to/from educational programs.
Disbursements are made directly to approved vendors or as reimbursement with receipts. Grovefund retains discretion to verify eligibility consistent with 501(c)(3) requirements.
Brand Sponsorship Standards
Grovefund accepts corporate sponsorships aligned with our mission. Sponsorships are subject to the following standards:
- Prohibited industries: tobacco, vaping, gambling, payday lending, weapons manufacturing, and any industry in active federal or state enforcement action.
- No individual-kid sponsorship: sponsors fund cohorts (100+ children minimum); they never target individual children.
- No data share-back:sponsors receive aggregated, anonymized reports only. Sponsors never receive donor lists, parent contacts, or children's personally identifying information.
- Grovefund discretion: Grovefund retains sole discretion to decline or terminate sponsorships that conflict with our mission.
Not Investment Advice
Grovefund is not an investment adviser, broker-dealer, custodial brokerage, or 529 plan provider. Fund balances are held as charitable trust assets for the benefit of the designated child's education, not as personal investment accounts. No guarantees of returns, growth, or principal preservation are made or implied.
Donor Rights
Grovefund observes the AFP Donor Bill of Rights. A full statement is available on our Donor Privacy Policy.
Financial Transparency
Grovefund commits to spending no less than 85% of donations on education directly for children, with the remainder covering operations, audit, and regulatory compliance. Operational overhead is funded primarily by foundation grants and a designated portion of brand sponsorship (disclosed separately in each sponsorship agreement), not from family contributions.
Questions or Concerns
Email legal@grovefund.org or donors@grovefund.org. We respond within 10 business days.