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East Palo Alto Academy Foundation

EIN 20-2699147 · Palo Alto, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY FOUNDATION ADVOCATES FOR, ADVANCES, AND RAISES FUNDS TO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY, A CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE SEQUOIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT. OUR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES ARE IN PURSUIT OF OUR MISSION TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND GRADUATES OF EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS INTO MEANINGFUL CAREERS BY PROVIDINGACADEMIC, NAVIGATIONAL, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
7
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$158,632, executive director

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    11 of 11 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. $1.4 million spent. EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2014, EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY FOUNDATION (PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2017, KNOWN AS STANFORD SCHOOLS CORPORATION) SERVES AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, SUPPORTING A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY, IN TWO WAYS. FIRST, EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY FOUNDATION (EPAAF) FUNDS DIRECT SERVICES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL INCLUDING: EARLY COLLEGE COURSES, WHERE STUDENTS EARN COLLEGE CREDIT DURING THEIR REGULAR SCHOOL DAY; THE DREAM LAB, A MAKERSPACE WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING AND DEVELOP CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS; EXTRA CURRICULARS INCLUDING ATHLETICS; AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH AND READINESS TO LEARN. SECOND, EPAAF OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO A SELECT NUMBER OF COLLEGE AND VOCATIONAL STUDENTS, ALL OF WHOM GRADUATED FROM EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY.EAST PALO ALTO ACADEMY PROVIDES A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 275 STUDENTS. THE STUDENT POPULATION IS APPROXIMATELY 90% LATINO/A/X, 3% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 4% PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND 3% OTHER. 74% OF STUDENTS WILL BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, AND 86% WILL BE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. APPROXIMATELY 35% OF THE STUDENTS ARE BILINGUAL & SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS. THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CURRICULUM, RIGOROUS COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND HIGH STANDARDS AND HIGH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN PURSUIT OF OUR AMBITIOUS VISION THAT "ALL STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE COLLEGE-READY, EMPOWERED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PASSION TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR OWN LIVES, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND THE GLOBAL SOCIETY." WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THAT 97% OF THE EPAA CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND 97% OF GRADUATES CHOSE A POSTSECONDARY PATHWAY AND JOINED AN EPAAF ALUMNI PROGRAM. 80% OF OUR SCHOLARS ARE STILL PERSISTING IN OR HAVE GRADUATED FROM POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OR TRAINING PROGRAMS.

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 September 2006.

    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.