Prep for Prep
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PREP FOR PREP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1978 WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO NEW YORK CITY'S MOST PROMISING STUDENTS TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN THE COUNTRY'S MAJOR INSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $11.2 million
- Spending
- $15.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 40.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 225
- Volunteers
- 553
- Highest pay
- $424,122, ceo through 11/15/24
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
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 40.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2579 of 79 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
- $5.0 million spent. PREPARATORY PROGRAMS PREP REDEFINES OPPORTUNITY FOR TOP STUDENTS IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMMING A RIGOROUS 14-MONTH COURSE OF STUDYTHAT RESULTS IN PLACING APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS ANNUALLY IN LEADING NYC INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (IN 7TH GRADE) AND NORTHEASTERN BOARDING SCHOOLS (IN 9TH GRADE). OUR ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS LEVERAGES ROUGHLY $40 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID FOR NEARLY 700 STUDENTS (GRADES 7-12) ANNUALLY COMMITTED BY OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS TO MEET STUDENTS' NEEDS BASED ON FAMILY HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
- $3.5 million spent. COUNSELING PREP PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING FOR APPROXIMATELY 700 STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THEIR TIME (RANGING FROM 4-6 YEARS) IN INDEPENDENT DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOLS. OUR COUNSELING TEAM MONITORS STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL PROGRESS AND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING TUTORING AND EMERGENCY FUND SUPPORT, TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS NEEDED. THE TEAM WORKS TO EQUIP STUDENTS, WHO ARE ALSO NAVIGATING ADOLESCENCE, TO ADDRESS ISSUES RANGING FROM IMPOSTER SYNDROME TO PERFECTIONISM; FROM ANXIETY TO DEPRESSION; FROM CULTURAL DIVIDES TO SENSE OF BELONGING. SERVICES AND SUPPORT ARE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO APPROXIMATELY 600 COLLEGE STUDENTS ANNUALLY THROUGH OUR UNDERGRADUATE AFFAIRS TEAM.
- $2.2 million spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PREP OFFERS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE TO ROUGHLY 1,300 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: SLEEP-AWAY CAMP; A PREP-SOTHEBY'S PARTNERSHIP FOR OUR SUMMER ARTS ACADEMY; A PREP-GOOGLE PARTNERSHIP FOR OUR INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP (IFE); COLLEGE GUIDANCE (INCLUDING CAMPUS VISITS); STUDENT LEADERSHIP RETREATS; SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER SEMINARS WITH LEADING FIRMS, COMPANIES, NONPROFITS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES; EXPOSURE TO STEM FIELDS AND COMPUTER CODING; TRAVEL ABROAD, INTERNATIONAL LIVING, AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING; AND OTHER PROGRAMS AIMED AT EXPANDING STUDENT HORIZONS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES INCREASE STUDENTS' SENSE OF BELONGING, BROADEN UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE'S POSSIBILITIES, AND BUILD A STRONGER SELF-CONFIDENCE.
- $2.1 million spent. TALENT SEARCH OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM IDENTIFIES 200 STUDENTS EACH YEAR FOR ADMISSION TO PREP FOR PREP, SELECTED AMONG NEARLY 4,000 ANNUAL INQUIRIES FROM STUDENTS IN NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS IS EXTENSIVE AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. STUDENTS ARE CHOSEN FOR THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO LEARNING AND GROWTH, THEIR COURAGE AND INTEGRITY, THEIR DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED, AND THEIR RESILIENCE. ALUMNI AFFAIRS FOR PREP'S ALUMNI, NOW OVER 4,500 STRONG AND GROWING, WE BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT TO PREP AND ITS MISSION. ONGOING NETWORKING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS, ALONG WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK THEIR TIME, KNOWLEDGE, AND TREASURE, ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ROLE MODELS, MENTORS, AND CHAMPIONS TO HELP THEM REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THEIR FELLOW ALUMNI.EXPERTISE & LEADERSHIP IMPACT PREP HAS A LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO SHARING ITS PROGRAM MODEL AND EXPERIENCE AND BOASTS A GROWING LIST OF MORE THAN 250 ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM OUR KNOWLEDGE, METHODS, AND APPROACHES. ADDITIONALLY, PREP SUPPORTS ITS PARTNER SCHOOLS WITH INFORMATION-SHARING AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT.
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
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 June 2025.
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 July 1968.
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.
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.