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Buffalo Prep Inc

EIN 16-1359846 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUFFALO PREP PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY BY DELIVERING RIGOROUS AND ENRICHING PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT WESTERN NEW YORK. WE STRIVE TO NURTURE OUR SCHOLARS' BRILLIANCE WHILE EMPOWERING THEM TO ENGAGE CIVICALLY AS THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
20.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
66
Volunteers
85
Highest pay
$145,727, 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

Strong: 95 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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 (4)
  1. $354,176 spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL PREP (MSP) SUPPORTS POST-5TH AND -6TH GRADE MOTIVATED SCHOLARS ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK WITH ACCELERATED EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT. MSP IS AN ENGAGING, FIVE-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM, DURING THE CRUCIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS, THAT KEEPS SCHOLARS ENGAGED THROUGH A CULTURALLY RELEVANT, FUN, AND STIMULATING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM NURTURES A LOVE OF LEARNING, CULTIVATES PEER-TO-PEER CONNECTION, AND PREPARES SCHOLARS FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS. IT TAKES PLACE AT NICHOLS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
  2. $484,579 spent. HIGH SCHOOL PREP IS AN INTENSIVE, 14-MONTH PROGRAM THAT PREPARES SCHOLARS FOR ACCEPTANCE TO AND SUCCESS AT TOP INDEPENDENT, CATHOLIC, CHARTER, AND CRITERIA-BASED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THIS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAM TAKES PLACE AT THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SOUTH CAMPUS THE SUMMERS BEFORE AND AFTER 8TH GRADE, AS WELL AS TWO NIGHTS PER WEEK AND ON SATURDAYS DURING THE 8TH GRADE ACADEMIC YEAR.
  3. $373,472 spent. RISING TO DISTINCTION - CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OISHEI FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND COLLEGE READINESS PREPARATION FOR UNDERREPRESENTED, TALENTED YOUTH. AN RTD SCHOLAR MUST ATTEND ONE OF OUR PARTNER HIGH SCHOOLS.
  4. $811,194 spent. PREP SCHOLARS ACADEMYPREP SCHOLARS ACADEMY (PSA) IS A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED CULTURALLY RELEVANT ACADEMIC PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP SCHOLARS EXCEL THROUGHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PREPARE THEM FOR HIGH SCHOOL. THIS EXCITING, ENGAGING, AND ACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM STRIVES TO HELP SCHOLARS TRANSITION INTO AND COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL BY PROVIDING ACADEMIC PREPARATION, AS WELL AS SCHOLAR AND FAMILY SUPPORT. PSA TAKES PLACE IN THE HEART OF THE WEST SIDE AT D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY; IT GIVES PREFERENCE TO HISPANIC/LATINO SCHOLARS AND OFFERS BILINGUAL INSTRUCTION.ALUMNI PREP FINAL: ALUMNI PREP SUPPORTS BUFFALO PREP GRADUATES AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR POST-SECONDARY JOURNEY AND CAREER PLACEMENT. IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO CAREER EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, LEADERSHIP AND ENRICHMENT WORKSHOPS, SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND NETWORKING AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES.READIREADI PROGRAM IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SERIES OF INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, AND PRESENTATIONS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND RACIAL EQUITY THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.SCHOLARSHIPSFOR SCHOLARS IN COLLEGE TO BE USED TOWARDS THEIR TUITION, BOOKS, RENT, AND TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE. FUEL FUND PROGRAM USED FOR NON TUITION ITEMS FOR SCHOLARS IN HIGH SCHOOLS SUCH AS SENIOR FEES, ATHLETIC FEES, PROM TICKETS, CLASS RINGS, ETC.CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDS USED TOWARD BUILDING ENHANCEMENTS, FURNITURE, FIXTURES, TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OUTSIDE OF OPERATING COSTSCOLLEGE PREP COLLEGE PREP IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ASSIST ELIGIBLE 9TH-12TH GRADE SCHOLARS TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY-EMOTIONALLY AS THEY NAVIGATE HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARE FOR THEIR POST-SECONDARY JOURNEY. THROUGH THIS CULTURALLY RELEVANT PROGRAM, SCHOLARS HAVE ACCESS TO TUTORIAL SERVICES, ACADEMIC SKILLS COACHING, COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID ADVISEMENT, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL.

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 November 6, 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 August 1994.

    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 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.