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The Oliver Scholars Program Inc

EIN 13-3248876 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OLIVER SCHOLARS PREPARES HIGH-ACHIEVING BLACK AND LATINO STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITIES FOR SUCCESS AT TOP INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES. WE PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR SCHOLARS SO THEY CAN REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND ULTIMATELY GIVE BACK TO THE CITY, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
26.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
57
Volunteers
141
Highest pay
$384,360, ceo

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

Good: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 26.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 80% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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 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 (5)
  1. $1.3 million spent. SCHOLAR IMMERSION PROGRAM: THE SCHOLAR IMMERSION PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS SIP, IS A 14-MONTH ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM INTENDED TO GIVE STUDENTS THE ACADEMIC, STUDY, AND SOCIAL SKILLS THEY WILL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT RIGOROUS HIGH SCHOOLS. STUDENTS ATTEND THE PROGRAM FOR TWO 6-WEEK SUMMER SESSIONS AND A YEAR OF SATURDAY CLASSES. THE SUMMER PROGRAM INCLUDES ONE-WEEK OF RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMMING AT A PARTNER BOARDING SCHOOL TO GIVE STUDENTS EXPOSURE TO THAT EXPERIENCE AND TO DEEPEN CONNECTIONS ACROSS THEIR COHORTS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. SCHOLAR SERVICES: ONCE OUR SCHOLARS MATRICULATE AT COMPETITIVE HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE OLIVER SCHOLARS SCHOLAR SERVICES TEAM. EVERY SCHOLAR ATTENDING AN INDEPENDENT BOARDING SCHOOL RECEIVES 1-2 ON-CAMPUS VISITS FROM A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. WE MONITOR HOW STUDENTS ARE ADJUSTING ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY AND MEET WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. OUR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS ATTEND PROGRAMMING ONCE A MONTH TO STAY CONNECTED AND RECEIVE THE SAME ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AS THEIR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL COHORTS. SIGNATURE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY AND OUR ANNUAL STUDENT CONFERENCE, IN OUR OWN VOICES. ADDITIONALLY, OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVE ONGOING COLLEGE COUNSELING, COLLEGE VISITS, COLLEGE ESSAY REVIEWS, AND FINANCIAL AID GUIDANCE. AND WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM VIA ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS AND MENTORS ONCE THEY MATRICULATE AT COLLEGE - WHERE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID AND TRANSFER SUPPORT.
  3. $992,967 spent. ADMISSIONS & PLACEMENT: OUR ADMISSIONS AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY TO IDENTIFY HIGH-ACHIEVING BLACK AND LATINX 7TH GRADERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE OLIVER SCHOLARS PROGRAM. WE HOST ADMISSIONS INFORMATION SESSIONS ACROSS THE CITY TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ABOUT THE EDUCATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEIR HIGH POTENTIAL STUDENTS. ONCE ADMITTED, THESE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO OUR SIGNATURE SCHOLAR IMMERSION PROGRAM AND HIGH SCHOOL APPLICATION SUPPORT FROM OUR PLACEMENT TEAM FOR INDEPENDENT DAY, BOARDING SCHOOLS AND COMPETITIVE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. THE PLACEMENT TEAM DEVELOPS STRONG PARTNERSHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR INDEPENDENT CONSORTIUM SCHOOLS IN THE CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ENSURE OUR SCHOLARS HAVE THE SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL AID THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL.
  4. $228,464 spent. THE GOAL OF THE COLLEGE BOUND INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT IS TO LEAD THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND APPLICATION PROCESS, INSPIRE SCHOLARS TO SEEK "BEST FIT" COLLEGES, COLLABORATE WITH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL COUNSELORS, EDUCATE AND PREPARE FAMILIES FOR THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE. WHILE SCHOLARS RECEIVE INTENSIVE SUPPORT SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARD PREPARING THEM FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS BEGINNING IN THEIR JUNIOR YEAR, OLIVER IS INTENTIONAL IN CREATING A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE AND BUILDING COLLEGE READINESS SKILLS BEGINNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
  5. $164,929 spent. OLIVER HONORS EVENT, AN INCREDIBLE NIGHT CELEBRATING OUR SCHOLARS AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND SERVICE.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 March 1985.

    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.