Propel Schools Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PROPEL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE MISSION OF PROPEL SCHOOLS: TO CATALYZE THE TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PROPEL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION SEEKS AND ACCEPTS DONATIONS AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT ADVANCE OUR IMPERATIVE WORK THAT EMPOWERS OUR SCHOLARS TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE. FUNDS RAISED ARE DISPERSED TO THE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE QUALITY PROGRAMS TO THE 3,500 SCHOLARS ATTENDING PROPEL'S 13 SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 56%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 67%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $307,114, ceo/superintendent
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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 52% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 285% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1556% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 2515 of 15 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 (2)
- $617,142 spent. THE PROPEL SCHOOLS FOUNDATION IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE WORK OF PROPEL'S 13 SCHOOLS AND THEIR 3,500 K-12 SCHOLARS. WITH THE MISSION TO CATALYZE THE TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SO THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE FOREFRONT. THROUGH OUR PRINCIPAL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, THE SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS TO OUR SCHOLARS: 1) OUR AWARD-WINNING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH SERVED OVER 450 SCHOLARS DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR; 2) THE PROPEL TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM (PTRP) ATTRACTING DIVERSE TEACHERS TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL CHALLENGE OF RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATORS; 3) PROPEL PARTNERS IN WELLNESS (PPIW), A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP SCHOLARS AND THEIR FAMILIES MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ACADEMIC YEAR; 4) SCHOLAR OPPORTUNITIES, A PROGRAM THAT ENSURES THAT EVERY SCHOLAR HAS ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE; AND 5) K-2 LITERACY PROGRAM AIMED AT ENSURING ALL SCHOLARS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF SECOND GRADE SETTING THEM ON A PATH TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.
- $96,927 spent. COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIPS TO PROPEL SCHOOLS' STUDENTS.
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 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 June 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 2004.
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.