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Avondale Meadows Academy Inc

EIN 13-4289579 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak32 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE PART I, LINE 1

Income
$16.7 million
Spending
$16.5 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-10.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$203,980, executive director (end march 2025)

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

Weak: 32 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 25

    9 of 9 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 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)
  1. $11.0 million spent. AVONDALE MEADOWS ACADEMY, INC. DBA UNITED SCHOOLS OF INDIANAPOLIS (USI) OPERATES THREE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. THE FIRST, AVONDALE MEADOWS ACADEMY ("AMA"), WAS FOUNDED TO SERVE STUDENTS IN THE AVONDALE MEADOWS COMMUNITY OF INDIANAPOLIS WHO OTHERWISE DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT OPENED IN 2006 UNDER THE NAME CHALLENGE FOUNDATION ACADEMY. IN SPRING 2014, AMA CHANGED THE NAME TO AVONDALE MEADOWS ACADEMY TO REFLECT THE TIES TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AMA IN GRADES K-5. IN FALL 2014, USI OPENED A SECOND SCHOOL, VISION ACADEMY @ RIVERSIDE ("VAR"), ON THE WEST SIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS. VAR SERVES GRADES K - 8 AND IS NEAR ITS CAPACITY OF 460 STUDENTS. IN FALL 2017, USI OPENED AVONDALE MEADOWS MIDDLE SCHOOL (AMM) IN AN EXPANSION TO THE CURRENT AMA FACILITY. AMMS HAS THE CAPACITY TO SERVE 300 STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8. CURRENTLY, THEIR ENROLLMENT IS 165.ALL USI SCHOOLS ARE TUITION-FREE QUALITY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND THEIR WORK IS DRIVEN BY THEIR MISSION TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT REALIZES THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING EACH STUDENT WITH WHAT HE/SHE NEEDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 July 2005.

    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.