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College Access Fairfax

EIN 03-0546470 · Falls Church, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood88 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

COLLEGE ACCESS FAIRFAX IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED ON JULY 27, 2004 DEDICATED TO GUIDING FAIFAX COUNTY VIRGINIA PARENTS AND STUDENTS THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION PROCESS. CAF ALSO MAINTAINS A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO ASSIST PARENTS AND STUDENTS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION.

Income
$166,728
Spending
$157,078
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $116,646 spent. ASSIST STUDENTS WITH HIGHER EDUCATION BY OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS. A COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS WORKING IN THE FIELD OF COLLEGE ACCESS AND DONORS ARE INVITED TO REVIEW SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS VIA AN ON-LINE PLATFORM (SMARTER SELECT). A RUBRIC FOR EACH SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN CREATED TO SCORE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE APPLICATION. REVIEWERS ARE ASKED NOT TO SCORE ANY APPLICANT WHERE THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND SIGN A STATEMENT ATTESTING TO THAT REQUIREMENT.
  2. $28,177 spent. EDUCATE AND GUIDE PARENTS AND STUDENTS THROUGH THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS, INCLUDING COMPLETING FEDERAL FORMS, SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERPRETING STUDENT AID REPORTS AND OTHER SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH PARENT WORKSHOPS AND BY CAF'S FINANCIAL AID CHAMPIONS AT SELECTED LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL FREE OF CHARGE. EACH CHAMPION SAW APPROXIMATELY 250 STUDENTS. WORKSHOPS WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 2,000 PARENTS AND STUDENTS. GROUP PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE TO PARENTS AND ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS. WE REINSTITUTED OUR IN-PERSON FAFSA COMPLETION EVENTS, HOLDING 15 THIS YEAR. WHILE THERE WERE FEWER PROBLEMS WITH THE FAFSA THAN THE YEAR BEFORE, CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED. FINANCIAL AID CHAMPIONS: WE CONTINUED WITH FOUR FINANCIAL AID CHAMPIONS THIS YEAR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FRUSTRATION OF THE CONTINUING PLATFORM ISSUES CAUSED MANY FAMILIES TO NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE FORM. WE CONTINUED TO OFFER VIRTUAL MEETINGS FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS FROM ANY SCHOOL IN FAIRFAX COUNTY. THIS YEAR WERE ABLE TO RE-ASSIGN CHAMPIONS TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WE ARE NOW IN WEST POTOMAC, MT. VERNON, EDISON, HAYFIELD, MOUNTAIN VIEW, LEWIS, CHANTILLY, SOUTH LAKES, WESTFIELD, WEST SPRINGFIELD, ANNANDALE, CENTREVILLE, ROBINSON AND HERNDON. CHAMPIONS WORKED IN BOTH THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS AND AT OUR FAFSA COMPLETION EVENTS. "PAYING FOR COLLEGE": COLLEGE ACCESS FAIRFAX MAINTAINED THE "PAYING FOR COLLEGE" PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE, SCHOLARSHIP 101 AND FAFSA LINE BY LINE PROGRAMS. ALL PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED VIRTUALLY. THIS YEAR WE CONTINUED OUR "NEW" PROGRAM OF SPEAKING TO STUDENTS IN BOTH CPP, AVID AND PERSONAL FINANCE CLASSES. OVER 1,500 STUDENTS ATTENDED OUR STUDENT PRESENTATIONS AND OVER 1,500 PARENTS ATTENDED PRESENTATIONS. OVER 29 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEMINARS WERE HELD, WITH OVER 4,000 PARENTS AND/OR STUDENTS ATTENDED. OUTLOOK: THESE ARE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE ACCESS FAIRFAX, AND WE ANTICIPATE RUNNING THE PROGRAM AT AS MANY SCHOOLS AS POSSIBLE. "MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS": AGAIN, WE WERE UNABLE TO OFFER THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE FAFSA.
  3. $2,245 spent. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VA529 PLAN, EACH YEAR 15-30 10TH GRADE STUDENTS AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SOAR PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WORKS WITH STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE INFORMATION TO PREPARE THEM TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE. FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM IN BOTH 10TH AND 11TH GRADE, THE STUDENTS ARE AWARDED $500 EACH YEAR IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AND AN ADDITIONAL $1000 FOR THEIR SENIOR YEAR.

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 2005.

    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.

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.