Publicolor Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PUBLICOLOR IS AN INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS FACING IMMENSE LIFE CHALLENGES FOR ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT-BASED CONTINUUM OF PROGRAMS. THE ORGANIZATION'S VISION IS TO PROVIDE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY BY CREATIVELY ADDRESSING UNDEREDUCATION AND COMBATING LEARNING LOSS.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 8.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 699
- Highest pay
- $223,460, founder & president
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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 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 (1)
- $2.8 million spent. IN THE 29 YEARS SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1996, PUBLICOLOR HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT RESULTS:- AN ESTIMATED 30,200 STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PUBLICOLOR PROGRAMS.- OVER 29,500 CORPORATE, COMMUNITY, AND COLLEGE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ENGAGED IN PAINTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TUTORING, AND MENTORING.- PUBLICOLOR HAS TRANSFORMED A TOTAL OF 371 NYC SCHOOLS, REPRESENTING APPROXIMATELY 25% OF ALL NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CAMPUSES, AND 260 UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING HOMELESS SHELTERS, PLAYGROUNDS, EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS, HEALTH CLINICS, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS, AND MANY OTHER VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN FY25, PUBLICOLOR ENGAGED 1,684 STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH COLLEGE, HELPING THEM ACHIEVE NOTEWORTHY OUTCOMES:- STUDENTS IN THE 2024 SUMMER DESIGN STUDIO PROGRAM INCREASED THEIR SCORES ON POST-DIAGNOSTIC TESTS BY AN AVERAGE OF 5.1% IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND 5.5% IN MATH. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP BETWEEN LOW- AND HIGH-INCOME STUDENTS.- 100% OF CONTINUUM STUDENTS WERE PROMOTED ON TIME TO THE NEXT GRADE.- 100% OF PUBLICOLOR'S 31 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATED ON TIME IN JUNE 2025. 100% WERE ADMITTED INTO COLLEGE (90%) OR A POST-SECONDARY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (10%) AND ENROLLED IN FALL 2025.- 96% OF PUBLICOLOR'S INCOMING COLLEGE FRESHMEN IN FALL 2025 WERE COLLEGE-READY, NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE REMEDIAL CLASSES.
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 November 6, 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 February 1997.
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 November 4, 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.