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New Schools for New Orleans Inc

EIN 02-0773717 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF NSNO IS TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY CHILD IN NEW ORLEANS BY: (1) ATTRACTING AND PREPARING TALENT TO TEACH AND LEAD (2) LAUNCHING AND SUPPORTING OPEN-ENROLLMENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND (3) ADVOCATING FOR ACCOUNTABLE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) AND SUSTAINABLE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Income
$6.7 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
25
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$304,160, ceo/board member

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $2.6 million spent. PORTFOLIO: NSNO INVESTS IN SCHOOLS AND PARTNERS WITH THE ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF NEW ORLEANS' SCHOOL OPTIONS.NSNO WILL BROADEN THEIR EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT NEW SCHOOL MODELS THAT HAVE PROMISING APPROACHES OR FULFILL SPECIFIC CITYWIDE DEMANDS FROM STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.NSNO ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT FAR TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE BEING UNDERSERVED IN OUR SCHOOLS. NSNO WILL WORK WITH THE DISTRICT AND OTHER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REMAIN IN SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT MEET THEIR NEEDS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. POLICY AND COMMUNICATIONS: NSNO PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS AND POLICY SUPPORT TO MAINTAIN A REFORM-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.NSNO WILL DILIGENTLY MONITOR THE POLICY LANDSCAPE AND COLLABORATE WITH THEIR PARTNERS TO HELP OPSB IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT ALLOW GREAT SCHOOLS TO THRIVE. NSNO WILL HELP SHARE THE STORIES OF THE GREAT WORK HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOLS, WHILE ALSO SHINING A LIGHT ON THE CHALLENGES THEIR SYSTEM STILL FACES AND HOW THEIR CITY IS WORKING TO SOLVE THEM.R MORE RIGOROUS STANDARDS.
  3. $4.4 million spent. TALENT: NSNO TAKES A LEADING ROLE IN COORDINATING SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CHALLENGES.NSNO WAS AWARDED A US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND GRANT TO PROMOTE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE IN NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TEACHERS WILL BE EVALUATED BASED ON MULTIPLE OBSERVATIONS AND A MEASURE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THESE EVALUATIONS WILL ALLOW SCHOOL LEADERS AND ORGANIZATION ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE ALIGNED SUPPORT DESIGNED TO ENABLE TEACHERS AND LEADERS TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS. IN ADDITION, RESULTS FROM THESE EVALUATIONS WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE EDUCATOR ELIGIBILITY FOR PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION SYSTEMS. BY CHAMPIONING PROFESSIONAL (CONTINUED ON SCH. O) EXCELLENCE WITH A FOCUS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, NOLA TIF WILL SUPPORT THE CONTINUED DRIVE TOWARD ACHIEVING EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EVERY CHILD IN NEW ORLEANS. NSNO WAS ALSO AWARDED A US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER INCENTRIVE GRANT TO SUPPORT PARTNER SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTING, IMPORVING, OR EXPANDING THEIR OVERALL HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (HCMS), INCLUDING A PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION SYSTEM (PBCS).

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.