Chess-In-The-Schools Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS FOSTERS THE INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-INCOME YOUTH THROUGH CHESS EDUCATION.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 77.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 35%
- Employees
- 83
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $226,262, president & ceo
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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 77.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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)
- $1.3 million spent. SCHOOL PROGRAM:THE CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS SCHOOL PROGRAM BRINGS CHESS WITH ITS ACADEMIC BENEFITS INTO CLASSROOMS AND PROVIDES AFTER-SCHOOL CHESS CLUBS FOR STUDENTS. CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS TAUGHT CHESS TO 8,748 STUDENTS IN 47 TITLE I ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE ALSO ORGANIZED AND RAN AN AFTER-SCHOOL CHESS CLUB IN 44 SCHOOLS. - 100% OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS SURVEYED REPORTED THAT CHESS HAD A MEANINGFUL POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR STUDENTS.- 96% OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS SURVEYED REPORTED THAT CHESS IMPROVED STUDENTS' ANALYTICAL AND LOGICAL REASONING SKILLS.- 92% OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS REPORTED THAT THEIR STUDENTS APPLIED THE LESSONS OF CHESS BEYOND THE CHESS BOARD.
- $552,902 spent. SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT PROGRAM:THE SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT PROGRAM OFFERS COMPETITIVE CHESS TOURNAMENTS IN NEW YORK CITY. CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS RAN AND ORGANIZED 36 SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN - 12TH GRADE STUDENTS. 17 WERE IN-PERSON AND 19 WERE HOSTED ONLINE. THE TOURNAMENTS WERE OPEN TO ALL NEW YORK CITY CHILDREN.
- $542,889 spent. COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM: THE COLLEGE BOUND PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SERVICES TO HELP OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL ON TIME AND ATTEND COLLEGE. FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, WE WORKED WITH 95 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. 100% OF THE GRADUATING CLASS GRADUATED ON TIME AND 100% OF SENIORS MATRICULATED TO COLLEGE.
- $17,537 spent. CIS TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE PROGRAM:THE CIS TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTE AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS IN NEW YORK CITY THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY TEACH CHESS TO THEIR STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND IN AFTER-SCHOOL CHESS CLUBS. 16 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM.
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 May 1956.
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.