America Scores Cleveland
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
AMERICA SCORES CLEVELAND INSPIRES URBAN YOUTH TO LEAD HEALTHY LIVES, BE ENGAGED STUDENTS, AND HAVE THE CONFIDENCE AND CHARACTER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
- Income
- $709,513
- Spending
- $675,681
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 15 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 95
- Highest pay
- $86,428, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 15.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
5 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 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 August 31, 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 (3)
- $158,804 spent. CORE SOCCER PROGRAMMING FOR GRADES 3-5 POET-ATHLETES (STUDENTS FROM PARTNERING CLEVELAND SCHOOLS) MEET WITH THEIR SOCCER COACHES FOR SOCCER PRACTICES AND GAMES DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS TWO DAYS PER WEEK FOR 22 WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, UTILIZING THE AMERICA SCORES SOCCER CURRICULUM. THIS CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES CHARACTER-BUILDING SKILLS SUCH AS LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK AND COMMITMENT, DAILY LESSONS END WITH DISCUSSION PROMOTING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, SELF-ESTEEM, GOAL SETTING AND SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP. POET-ATHLETES PLAY GAMES BETWEEN AMERICA SCORES SCHOOLS AT SCHOOL SITES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS ONCE PER WEEK. PROGRAM YEARS BEGIN AND END WITH COMMUNITY SOCCER EVENTS. DURING FY25, 366 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE 22 WEEKS OF WHICH 73% WERE RETURNING STUDENTS FROM FALL TO SPRING. 86% OF PARTICIPANTS IMPROVED ON THE PACER TEST IN THE NUMBER OF SHUTTLES RUN FROM THEIR PRE- TO POST-ASSESSMENT. 98% OF CAREGIVERS AGREED THAT THEIR CHILD SPENDS MORE TIME PHYSICALLY ACTIVE SINCE BEING PART OF THE SCORES PROGRAM CORE SOCCER PROGRAMMING FOR GRADES 3-5 POET-ATHLETES (STUDENTS FROM PARTNERING CLEVELAND SCHOOLS) MEET WITH THEIR SOCCER COACHES FOR SOCCER PRACTICES AND GAMES DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS TWO DAYS PER WEEK FOR 22 WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, UTILIZING THE AMERICA SCORES SOCCER CURRICULUM. THIS CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES CHARACTER-BUILDING SKILLS SUCH AS LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK AND COMMITMENT, DAILY LESSONS END WITH DISCUSSION PROMOTING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, SELF-ESTEEM, GOAL SETTING AND SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP. POET-ATHLETES PLAY GAMES BETWEEN AMERICA SCORES SCHOOLS AT SCHOOL SITES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LOCATIONS ONCE PER WEEK. PROGRAM YEARS BEGIN AND END WITH COMMUNITY SOCCER EVENTS. DURING FY25, 366 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE 22 WEEKS OF WHICH 73% WERE RETURNING STUDENTS FROM FALL TO SPRING. 86% OF PARTICIPANTS IMPROVED ON THE PACER TEST IN THE NUMBER OF SHUTTLES RUN FROM THEIR PRE- TO POST-ASSESSMENT. 98% OF CAREGIVERS AGREED THAT THEIR CHILD SPENDS MORE TIME PHYSICALLY ACTIVE SINCE BEING PART OF THE SCORES PROGRAM
- $151,978 spent. CORE WRITING PROGRAMMING FOR GRADES 3-5 POET-ATHLETES (STUDENTS FROM PARTNERING CLEVELAND SCHOOLS) MEET WITH THEIR WRITING COACHES FOR CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS TWO DAYS PER WEEK FOR 22 WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN THE FALL, POET-ATHLETES ARE ENGAGED IN THE "POWER OF POETRY" CURRICULUM. THE FALL SEASON ENDS WITH A POETRY SLAM. THE SPRING WRITING CURRICULUM, "WRITING FOR THE COMMUNITY", FOCUSES ON SERVICE-LEARNING, WHERE POET-ATHLETES SELECT A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND THEN WORK AS A TEAM TO IMPLEMENT A SERVICE PROJECT. THE SPRING SEASON ENDS WITH A PRESENTATION OF TEAM-LED COMMUNITY PROJECTS. DURING FY25, 366 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE 22 WEEKS. 79% OF PARTICIPANTS MAINTAINED OR SHOWED IMPROVED ON THEIR WRITING ASSESSMENT, 91% OF COACHES SURVEYED, AGREED THAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE ARTS SKILLS; 93% OF PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE SCORES PROGRAM HELPED THEM BECOME COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WHEN SPEAKING IN FRONT OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE; 92% OF CAREGIVERS/PARENTS AGREED THAT BECAUSE OF THE SCORES PROGRAM THEIR CHILD'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IMPROVED SINCE JOINING AMERICA SCORES. CORE WRITING PROGRAMMING FOR GRADES 3-5 POET-ATHLETES (STUDENTS FROM PARTNERING CLEVELAND SCHOOLS) MEET WITH THEIR WRITING COACHES FOR CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS TWO DAYS PER WEEK FOR 22 WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. IN THE FALL, POET-ATHLETES ARE ENGAGED IN THE "POWER OF POETRY" CURRICULUM. THE FALL SEASON ENDS WITH A POETRY SLAM. THE SPRING WRITING CURRICULUM, "WRITING FOR THE COMMUNITY", FOCUSES ON SERVICE-LEARNING, WHERE POET-ATHLETES SELECT A COMMUNITY ISSUE AND THEN WORK AS A TEAM TO IMPLEMENT A SERVICE PROJECT. THE SPRING SEASON ENDS WITH A PRESENTATION OF TEAM-LED COMMUNITY PROJECTS. DURING FY25, 366 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE 22 WEEKS. 79% OF PARTICIPANTS MAINTAINED OR SHOWED IMPROVED ON THEIR WRITING ASSESSMENT, 91% OF COACHES SURVEYED, AGREED THAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE ARTS SKILLS; 93% OF PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE SCORES PROGRAM HELPED THEM BECOME COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WHEN SPEAKING IN FRONT OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE; 92% OF CAREGIVERS/PARENTS AGREED THAT BECAUSE OF THE SCORES PROGRAM THEIR CHILD'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IMPROVED SINCE JOINING AMERICA SCORES.
- $261,995 spent. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING IN FY25 INCLUDED A JUNIOR PROGRAM FOR GRADES 1-2 AT 12 SCHOOLS AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR GRADES 6-8, OFFERED IN 5 SCHOOLS AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 5 CITY OF CLEVELAND RECREATION AND RESOURCE CENTERS. PRACTICES RANGED FROM 60 TO 120 MINUTES AND WERE HELD TWO TO FOUR DAYS PER WEEK, WITH AN EQUAL FOCUS ON SOCCER AND LITERACY PROGRAMMING. 261 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN JR. SCORES FOR AT LEAST ONE DAY OF PROGRAMMING, WITH 93% IMPROVING OR MAINTAINING THEIR SCORES ON DOLCH SIGHT WORD PRE- AND POST-ASSESSMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 138 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SPRING SESSION, WITH 100% REPORTING THAT THE SCORES PROGRAM BOOSTED THEIR CONFIDENCE, AND 88% OF CAREGIVERS AGREED THAT THEIR CHILD SPENT MORE TIME READING OR WRITING AFTER JOINING THE PROGRAM. SUMMER PROGRAMMING SPANNED FIVE TO EIGHT WEEKS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, CMSD SUMMER SCHOOLS, AND THE CITY OF CLEVELAND RECREATION CENTERS. ADDITIONALLY SCORES HELD CLINICS, WINTER SESSIONS, AND PARTNERED IN MANY CITY WIDE EVENTS SCORES SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 1,103 YOUTH IN GRADES 1-8 THROUGH ITS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. OVERALL, AMERICA SCORES ENGAGED 1,868 CLEVELAND YOUTH DURING FY25. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING IN FY25 INCLUDED A JUNIOR PROGRAM FOR GRADES 1-2 AT 12 SCHOOLS AND A MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR GRADES 6-8, OFFERED IN 5 SCHOOLS AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 5 CITY OF CLEVELAND RECREATION AND RESOURCE CENTERS. PRACTICES RANGED FROM 60 TO 120 MINUTES AND WERE HELD TWO TO FOUR DAYS PER WEEK, WITH AN EQUAL FOCUS ON SOCCER AND LITERACY PROGRAMMING. 261 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN JR. SCORES FOR AT LEAST ONE DAY OF PROGRAMMING, WITH 93% IMPROVING OR MAINTAINING THEIR SCORES ON DOLCH SIGHT WORD PRE- AND POST-ASSESSMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, 138 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SPRING SESSION, WITH 100% REPORTING THAT THE SCORES PROGRAM BOOSTED THEIR CONFIDENCE, AND 88% OF CAREGIVERS AGREED THAT THEIR CHILD SPENT MORE TIME READING OR WRITING AFTER JOINING THE PROGRAM. SUMMER PROGRAMMING SPANNED FIVE TO EIGHT WEEKS IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS, CMSD SUMMER SCHOOLS, AND THE CITY OF CLEVELAND RECREATION CENTERS. ADDITIONALLY SCORES HELD CLINICS, WINTER SESSIONS, AND PARTNERED IN MANY CITY WIDE EVENTS SCORES SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 1,103 YOUTH IN GRADES 1-8 THROUGH ITS ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. OVERALL, AMERICA SCORES ENGAGED 1,868 CLEVELAND YOUTH DURING FY25.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.