Communities in Schools of Cape Fear Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To surround at risk students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 7.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 115
- Volunteers
- 22
- Highest pay
- $137,978, 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 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 (1)
- $5.1 million spent. The mission of Communities in Schools of Cape Fear is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. To fulfill our mission, we place staff inside targeted, high-need public schools, who work directly with vulnerable students and those with the greatest risk of dropping out throughout the school day. We empower over 2,500 students to stay in school and on the path to graduation each year. Our trained student support specialists do this by partnering with counselors and teachers, mobilizing the community to offer extra support, and doing whatever it takes to help students succeed. Our unique model works because it's based on national research, driven by community relationships and supported by local resources. Current programs include Student Support Specialists at 34 area schools, afterschool programs at 6 schools in Pender County, Community Learning Alternatives for Suspended Students (CLASS) at our downtown youth center, WIRE, Teen Court, Restitution, and Restorative Justice, Freedom School and summer enrichment programs, and programming to support and empower teen parents. During the 2023/2024 school year, we provided free programming and support to 34,549 students and families, and case-managed an additional 2,664. Of those, 99% stayed in school, 94% graduated, 88% improved academically, 79% improved behavior, and 93% improved attendance.
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 May 2006.
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.