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Jefferson School Foundation

EIN 20-0598073 · Charlottesvle, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVING AND SUSTAINING THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL AS A VIBRANT AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY RESOURCE, PROVIDING CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, THE CITIZENS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE AND VISITORS TO OUR REGION. THE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES JEFFERSON SCHOOL'S RICH HISTORY AND SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL IN A RACIALLY SEGREGATED COMMUNITY AS WE PROMOTE A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE. OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ENDURING LEGACY OF THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL.

Income
$262,212
Spending
$249,682
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
-142.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 83%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $233,956 spent. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL CITY CENTER (JSCC) AND SEEKS TO ENHANCE ITS VITALITY AND IMPORTANCE AS A CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE. IT ALSO PROMOTES OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AIMED AT CREATING A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAM AT THE CITY CENTER THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE JSCC PROMOTES CULTURAL AWARENESS THROUGH THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER AND THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE BOOK. THE JSCC PROVIDES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THROUGH AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER, WORKFORCE HEALTHCARE TRAINING, AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN CULINARY ARTS, AND LITERACY TRAINING. THE JSCC SERVES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A RECREATION CENTER, HEALING ARTS CENTER, WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER, WOMEN'S COUNSELING CENTER, AND A LOAN PROGRAM FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL CITY CENTER (JSCC) AND SEEKS TO ENHANCE ITS VITALITY AND IMPORTANCE AS A CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE. IT ALSO PROMOTES OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AIMED AT CREATING A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAM AT THE CITY CENTER THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE JSCC PROMOTES CULTURAL AWARENESS THROUGH THE JEFFERSON SCHOOL AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER AND THE VIRGINIA CENTER FOR THE BOOK. THE JSCC PROVIDES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THROUGH AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER, WORKFORCE HEALTHCARE TRAINING, AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN CULINARY ARTS, AND LITERACY TRAINING. THE JSCC SERVES THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A RECREATION CENTER, HEALING ARTS CENTER, WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER, WOMEN'S COUNSELING CENTER, AND A LOAN PROGRAM FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 December 2004.

    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.

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