Education Reform Now Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION CHANGE AT BOTH THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT EVERY STAGE FROM K-12 TO HIGHER-ED TO ENSURE AMERICANS OF ALL AGES, FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE, GAINS FULL AND FAIR ACCESS TO A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO FULFILL THEIR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $5.7 million
- Spending
- $13.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 5.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $336,311, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 138% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 45% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 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
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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $10.2 million spent. EDUCATION REFORM NOW, INC. (ERN) WORKS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND PUT FORTH IDEAS AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION POLICY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL ERN BUILDS A DURABLE NETWORK OF PROGRESSIVE CHAMPIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL POLICYMAKING ARENA TO EXPAND WHAT WORKS AND CHANGE WHAT IS BROKEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH A FOCUS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR. ERN'S WORK IS FOCUSED IN THE FOLLOWING BROAD AREAS: POLICY ACTION, LEADERSHIP NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COALITION BUILDING. WITHIN POLICY ACTION ERN'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL STUDENT-CENTERED POLICIES FOCUSING ON STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE, RESOURCE EQUITY, TEACHER PREPARATION, AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS AND PERSISTENCE. TO FACILITATE CHANGE IN K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION ERN EMPOWERS AND CONNECTS A NETWORK OF DIVERSE "ON THE GROUND" LEADERS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS TO DRIVE CHANGE, LEVERAGE ALLIANCES, AND TO MULTIPLY IMPACT. ERN USES MAJOR MEDIA AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TO ACTIVATE AUDIENCES AND ELEVATE ALIGNED VOICES. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH DIVERSE COALITIONS ERN SEEKS TO INFORM AND MOBILIZE VOTERS TO INCREASE CIVIC PARTICIPATION AROUND THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION REFORM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 January 2006.
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 November 4, 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.