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The New York City Center for Charter School Excellence

EIN 20-0759687 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING ALL OF NYC'S CHILDREN HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION. CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ONE OF THE MEANS THROUGH WHICH TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. WE ADVOCATE FOR LAWS AND POLICIES THAT ENABLE HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLING, FOSTER NEW SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO CHARTER OPERATORS AND EDUCATORS TO EMPOWER EQUITY, INCLUSION AND STUDENT SUCCESS, ENGAGE THE CHARTER COMMUNITY ON KEY ISSUES, AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND BUILD COMMUNITY AND POLICYMAKER SUPPORT. CHARTER SCHOOLS IN TURN, SHOW US WHAT IS POSSIBLE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$5.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
28.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
23
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$345,319, 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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 28.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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. $4.9 million spent. FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS, THE NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOL CENTER, THE COUNTRY'S FIRST CITYWIDE CHARTER SUPPORT STRATEGY, HAS SERVED AS A ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR ENSURING THE GROWTH AND VITALITY OF NYC'S CHARTER SECTOR. OUR INTEGRATED APPROACH TO BUILDING A FAVORABLE POLICY ENVIRONMENT, SOLVING INDUSTRY-WIDE CHALLENGES, ENSURING QUALITY, GROWING THE MOVEMENT AND PROVIDING KEY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES HAS "CLEARED THE BRUSH," SO THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN FOCUS ON THEIR CORE WORK OF EDUCATING CHILDREN. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY FIVE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:1. CREATE A FAVORABLE PUBLIC POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION REFORM, IN GENERAL: WE EDUCATE AND ENGAGE COMMUNITIES AND INFLUENCERS ON THE VALUE OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL MODEL, PROACTIVELY FRAMING THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH RESEARCH AND DATA AS WELL AS PUSHING BACK OPPONENTS AND GUIDING AND COORDINATING THE SECTOR. 2. EMPOWER CHARTER SCHOOLS TO SERVE ALL STUDENTS: THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, WE SUPPORT NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS AS THEY SEEK TO EQUITABLY RECRUIT, EDUCATE AND RETAIN ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. 3. ENSURE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY: WE HELP BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, TRAININGS AND GUIDANCE TO ENSURE CHARTER SCHOOLS NOT ONLY COMPLY WITH ALL STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND POLICIES, BUT ALSO IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES IN NONPROFIT OPERATIONS. 4. SUPPORT NEW SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT: WE BUILD THE CAPACITY OF PLANNING ND START UP TEAMS AS WELL AS SCHOOLS GROWING GRADES SO AS TO INCREASE THEIR CHANCES FOR SUCCESS. 5. TRANSFER CHARTER SCHOOL SUCCESSES BACK INTO NYC'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM: WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE NYCPS AND DISTRICT SCHOOLS TO TRANSFER LEARNINGS AND INNOVATIONS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR WORK DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDED: -RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING NUMEROUS FACT SHEETS, REPORTS/WHITE PAPERS, OP-EDS DESIGNED TO MYTH BUST AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS, ALIKE, ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL MODEL. - ENSURING NO LEGISLATION PASSED THAT NEGATIVELY CHANGES NEW YORK'S CHARTER SCHOOLS ACT OR HARMS/HAMPERS CHARTER OPERATIONS OR THE MODEL ITSELF. MAINTAINING THE URGENCY, VIA PRESS CONFERENCES, RALLIES, MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES, AROUND THE NEED FOR EQUITABLE FUNDING AND A LIFT IN NYC'S CHARTER CAP. - HOLDING NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACCOUNTABLE FOR DELIVERING THE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ENTITLED TO AS PART OF NYC'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. COLLABORATED WITH ADMINISTRATION & NYCPS LEADERSHIP TO SECURE NEW OPPORTUNITIES, PROTECT AUTONOMY AND ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION. - MONITORING NY'S THREE AUTHORIZERS TO ENSURE THEIR STANDARDS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING CHARTER SCHOOLS REMAIN CONSISTENT AND HIGH. - CONDUCTING SEVERAL CITYWIDE, MULTILINGUAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO INFORM FAMILIES ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL OPTION. THE CAMPAIGNS, WHICH INCLUDE CHARTER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE MONTH, "I AM NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS AND "HOW TO APPLY", SUPPORT CHARTER SCHOOLS' RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.- OFFERING NEARLY 200 REMOTE, HYBRID AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS/WORKSHOPS/PROFESSIONALDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ANNUALLY, EXPOSING CHARTERS TO BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELDS OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORTS AS WELL AS HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS. INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW PD ON DEMAND PLATFORM OFFERS OVER 40 ONLINE COURSES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR SCHOOL TEAMS TO LEARN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. - SUPPORTING POTENTIAL AND START-UP CHARTER LEADERS, VIA NEW SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS, TO EMPOWER THOUGHTFUL SCHOOL DESIGNS AND STRONG OPERATIONAL PRACTICES. - CREATING AN ONLINE NYC CHARTER SCHOOL FINDER, THE FIRST DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE CITY'S 420 CHARTER SCHOOL CAMPUSES, HELPING FAMILIES TO LOCATE, EXPLORE DATA AND APPLY TO NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

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 June 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.

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.