College Options Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 601 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO ENRICH THE ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ASSIST THEM IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. OUR EMPHASIS LIES WITH SERVING ALL FAMILIES, INCLUDING MILITARY FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN JROTC. TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION WE PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS AND FUNDING, UTILIZE STUDENT PLANNING GUIDES, COLLEGE EXAM STUDY GUIDES, ADMISSIONS TUTORIALS AND PERSONALIZED COUNSELING, AND CONDUCT SPIRITED ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS NATIONWIDE.
- Income
- $648,915
- Spending
- $550,366
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 5.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $126,063, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 601 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $380,011 spent. THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZES ACADEMIC CONTESTS EACH YEAR FOR TEAMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. ALL OF THESE CONTESTS WERE FOR MEMBERS OF CHAPTERS OF THE VARIOUS JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS ("JROTC") PROGRAMS. THESE CONTESTS GENERALLY CONSIST OF MULTIPLE ROUNDS IN WHICH THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE REMOTELY THROUGH AN INTERNET APPLICATION. IN THE CASE OF THE ARMY JROTC LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM AND ACADEMIC BOWL, THE AIR FORCE JROTC ACADEMIC BOWL, AND THE NAVY JROTC ACADEMIC BOWL, THERE IS ALSO A FINAL ROUND IN WHICH THE TOP TEAMS FROM THE ON-LINE COMPETITION TRAVEL TO A VENUE FOR A HEAD-TO-HEAD FINAL ROUND TO DETERMINE THE CHAMPION. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS AND HOSTS THESE HEAD-TO-HEAD ROUNDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Foundation for City College (New York, NY), EIN 84-3867573. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.