The Peer Power Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PEER POWER FOUNDATION HIRES, TRAINS, AND DEPLOYS COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESS COACHES IN ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED HIGH SCHOOLS. (EXPANDED MISSION ON SCHEDULE O)THESE SUCCESS COACHES WORK PRIMARILY INSIDE OF ENGLISH, MATH, AND SCIENCE CLASSES ALONGSIDE TEACHERS TO HELP STUDENTS MEET ACHIEVEMENT BENCHMARKS AND THEIR LIFE GOALS. THIS MODEL REDUCES THE ADULT TO STUDENT RATIO FROM 1:30 TO ABOUT 1:10, WHICH HELPS MEET THE HOLISTIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE FROM TEACHERS.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 52%
- Employees
- 681
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $173,825, 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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (3)
- $2.6 million spent. PEER POWER FOUNDATION DIRECTLY INVESTS IN MID-SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. IT RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND PLACES COLLEGE SUCCESS COACHES IN THE CLASSROOM FOR REAL TIME HELP WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS IT. THE COACHES ARE PLACED IN THE MATH, SCIENCE, AND ENGLISH CLASSES WHERE KIDS OFTEN STRUGGLE, BECOME PROBLEMATIC AND WITHDRAW FROM LEARNING AND EVEN DROP OUT OF SCHOOL. SCHOOLS WITH PEER POWER SUCCESS COACHES HAVE 8-10% HIGHER GRADUATION RATES. TO BE A SUCCESS COACH IS TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL JOB WHICH REQUIRES SUBSTANTIVE EXPERTISE IN MATH, SCIENCE, AND ENGLISH. ADDITIONALLY, IT REQUIRES A MINDSET OF SERVICE, HUMILITY AND URGENCY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE PARTNER WITH THE TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND PARENTS TO MENTOR, MODEL AND MOTIVATE YOUNG AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN SOCIOECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED NEIGHBORHOODS. THE 75% OF STUDENTS WE SERVE ARE IN FAMILIES AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE TUTORED MORE THAN 1,600,000 HOURS IMPACTING 35,000 CHILDREN. THE SUCCESS COACH IS OFTEN A FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT. PEER POWER'S TRAINING, AND CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND EARNING MODEL PRODUCES OUTSTANDING RESULTS. OUR SUCCESS COACH GRADUATION RATE IS 84%, THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT RATE IS LESS THAN 40%. CORE PROGRAMPEER POWER'S CORE PROGRAM DELIVERS COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT THROUGH A DUAL-IMPACT MODEL SERVING BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. IN FY25, WE PROVIDED:- 49,470 HOURS OF TUTORING AND MENTORING SERVICES- DIRECT SUPPORT TO 3,860 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS- YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE (180 SCHOOL DAYS PLUS SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING BREAK PERIODS)THE PROGRAM EMPLOYS COLLEGE STUDENTS AS SUCCESS COACHES, PROVIDING COMPETITIVE WAGES STARTING AT $16.50 PER HOUR. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHILE CREATING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS.LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY, AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AND/OR CAREER READINESS AMONG PARTICIPANTS. SUCCESS COACHES DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES, WITH 85% GRADUATING WITHIN 4-5 YEARS COMPARED TO THE INSTITUTIONAL AVERAGE OF 45% (ESTIMATED BASED ON CURRENT DATA). SUCCESS COACHES GAIN VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH CLASSROOM COLLABORATION WITH TEACHERS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND DIRECT STUDENT SUPPORT.UM CONNECTPEER POWER'S UM CONNECT PROGRAM CREATES DIRECT PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS. IN FY25, THE PROGRAM SERVED 300 STUDENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE READINESS ACTIVITIES INCLUDING:- DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY FACULTY ACROSS VARIOUS MAJORS- PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE FROM ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID REPRESENTATIVES- IN-DEPTH FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION SESSIONS- INTERACTIVE SESSIONS WITH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS- TARGETED SUPPORT ADDRESSING COLLEGE TRANSITION CHALLENGESTHE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE MEMPHIS STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION BY MAKING COLLEGE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND PROVIDING PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COLLEGE LIFE. LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE EXPANDING THE PIPELINE OF MEMPHIS STUDENTS ENTERING HIGHER EDUCATION AND ENSURING STUDENTS ARE WELL-PREPARED FOR THE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF UNIVERSITY LIFE.ACT PREP UNIVERSITYACT PREP UNIVERSITY PROVIDES FREE, COMPREHENSIVE ACT PREPARATION SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED STUDENTS, ELIMINATING ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM PREPARATION. IN FY25, THE PROGRAM SERVED 185 STUDENTS THROUGH INTENSIVE BOOTCAMP SESSIONS THAT INCLUDED:- SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION IN MATH, READING, SCIENCE, AND ENGLISH SUBJECTS- ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING WITH TRAINED INSTRUCTORS- PRACTICE TESTING SESSIONS- DIGITAL STUDY MATERIALS ACCESSTHE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE COLLEGE ACCESSIBILITY AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS THROUGH IMPROVED ACT PERFORMANCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2016, ACT PREP UNIVERSITY HAS SERVED MORE THAN 4,500 STUDENTS, DEMONSTRATING SUSTAINED IMPACT IN ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES IN COLLEGE TEST PREPARATION.
- $583,664 spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: PEER POWER'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2024, ADDRESSES CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND PROVIDES CAREER PATHWAYS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH IN MEMPHIS. THE PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH AGED 16-24, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON STUDENTS AT RISK OF OR ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.IN ITS SECOND YEAR, THE PROGRAM ACHIEVED REMARKABLE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES ACROSS THREE COHORTS TOTALING 55 PARTICIPANTS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)COHORT 3 (2025 - 14 PARTICIPANTS):- 100% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION- 100% RECEIVED TWO IMPACT CREDENTIALS FROM MOORE TECH- 100% GAINED ADMISSION INTO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS- 100% COMPLETED 8 HOURS OF THERAPY- 100% ENROLLED IN TECHNICAL PROGRAMS AT MOORE TECHTHE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO ADDRESS MEMPHIS'S DISTRICT-WIDE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM RATE OF 29% (COMPARED TO THE STATE AVERAGE OF 20%) BY CONNECTING EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE REDUCING YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCREASING WORKFORCE READINESS AMONG AT-RISK YOUTH, AND CREATING SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATHWAYS THROUGH INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS.EARN AND LEARNPEER POWER'S EARN AND LEARN PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE SERVING YOUTH AGES 14-24 IN MEMPHIS. IN FY25, THE PROGRAM ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MEASURABLE OUTCOMES:- ENROLLED AND PROVIDED JOB READINESS TRAINING TO 520 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS- SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 195 PARTICIPANTS IN DIRECT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH PEER POWER- FACILITATED PERMANENT JOB PLACEMENTS FOR 167 PARTICIPANTS POST-PROGRAM- GENERATED $1,894,400 IN EMPLOYER WAGE SAVINGS THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS- ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH 71 MEMPHIS BUSINESSES ACROSS DIVERSE INDUSTRIESTHE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CAREER PATHWAYS FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH, WITH 59% OF PARTICIPANTS COMING FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND 41% GAINING THEIR FIRST WORK EXPERIENCE. LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE REDUCING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, INCREASING MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN KEY INDUSTRIES, AND BUILDING A SKILLED LOCAL WORKFORCE PIPELINE.
- $6,227 spent. LEARNING CAMPS: PEER POWER LEARNING CAMPS PROVIDE CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC SUPPORT DURING SCHOOL BREAKS (SUMMER, FALL, AND SPRING) FOR MEMPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY STUDENTS. IN FY25, THE CAMPS SERVED 514 STUDENTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDED:- TARGETED TUTORING AND MENTORING SESSIONS- COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAMMING - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EXPOSURETHE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVE IS TO PREVENT LEARNING LOSS DURING SCHOOL BREAKS WHILE PROVIDING CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT THROUGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND CAREER EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES. LONG-TERM GOALS INCLUDE MAINTAINING ACADEMIC PROGRESS YEAR-ROUND AND INCREASING COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS AMONG PARTICIPANTS.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Foundation (Houston, TX), EIN 92-0742101. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.