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Art of Problem Solving Initiative Inc

EIN 20-1239616 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BEAM AIMS TO OPEN UP OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT, TO INSTILL A GENUINE LOVE FOR MATHEMATICS, AND TO OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR FULFILLING, WELL-PAID CAREERS. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, BEAM IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IN THE US PROVIDING LONG-TERM (10-YEAR), COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO ENSURE SUCCESS IN ADVANCED MATH FOR KIDS FROM LOW-INCOME AND LOW-ACCESS BACKGROUNDS. OUR GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC PREPARATION FOR ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL WORK; SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SO STUDENTS ARE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH STEM IDENTITIES AND ENGAGING STEM COMMUNITIES; A COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED PEERS INCLUDING STUDENTS, COUNSELORS, AND FACULTY IN WHOM OUR STUDENTS CAN SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED; AND GUIDANCE AND MENTORING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN SEEKING OUT FUTURE STEM OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$11.8 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
18.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
234
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$244,974, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 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 25

    13 of 13 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 May 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 (2)
  1. $6.4 million spent. THE ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING INITIATIVE, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION), FORMERLY KNOWN AS "THE ART OF PROBLEM SOLVING FOUNDATION" WAS FORMED IN 2004. FROM 2004 THROUGH 2011, AOPSI WAS A SMALL, ALL-VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION; WE RAN A NATIONAL MATH CONTEST AND SUPPORTED LOCAL UNIVERSITY-RUN MATH CIRCLES. BRIDGE TO ENTER ADVANCED MATHEMATICS (BEAM) WAS FOUNDED IN 2011 BY DANIEL ZAHAROPOL AND RAPIDLY BECAME AOPSI'S MAIN PRIORITY AS THE PROGRAM STARTED TO FIND REAL SUCCESS. BEAM WAS FOUNDED TO ADDRESS A LARGELY UNRECOGNIZED PROBLEM: WHILE AFFLUENT STUDENTS WITH TALENT IN MATH HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN DEEP ENRICHMENT MATHEMATICS, EVEN HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TYPICALLY RECEIVE ONLY ROTE INSTRUCTION FOCUSED ON BASIC SKILLS. TOO FREQUENTLY, THEIR POTENTIAL GOES UNRECOGNIZED OR UNSUPPORTED.BEAM WAS LAUNCHED AS A SMALL 3-WEEK RESIDENTIAL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR 17 RISING 8TH GRADERS IN NEW YORK CITY. AS BEAM'S SUMMER PROGRAMS GREW, IN 2013, BEAM ALSO BEGAN TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO STUDENTS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR, INCLUDING WEEKEND CLASSES AND DROP-IN OFFICE HOURS. IN 2018, BEAM EXPANDED TO LOS ANGELES AND CONTINUED TO GROW IN NYC. BEAM HAS NOW GROWN FROM RUNNING A SINGLE SUMMER CAMP TO RUNNING SIX SUMMER SITES SERVING ABOUT 420 STUDENTS EACH SUMMER AND PROVIDING YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING FOR 650 STUDENTS IN NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES.THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ITS EFFORTS ON FOUR MAIN PROGRAMS: BRIDGE TO ENTER ADVANCED MATHEMATICS ("BEAM") DISCOVERY AND SUMMER AWAY, THE BEAM PATHWAY PROGRAM, AND ENTRY POINTS, A NEW NATIONAL INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO BRING BEAM PROGRAMS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN 2020 WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST NATIONAL PROGRAM TO REACH LOW-ACCESS STUDENTS ACROSS THE US. WHEN FULLY ROLLED OUT, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO SUPPORT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BEGINNING IN 2ND GRADE AND CONTINUING THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BEAMMATH.ORG OR WILL BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.
  2. $91,956 spent. USA MATHEMATICAL TALENT SEARCH (USAMTS)- IS A NATIONAL MATH COMPETITION FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PROMOTE ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS AND EDUCATION. THE USAMTS ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO LEARN ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL WRITING SKILLS. THE USAMTS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ON AVERAGE A TOTAL OF 600 TO 700 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE USAMTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 September 7, 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 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.