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Catalyst Schools

EIN 20-4069346 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CATALYST SCHOOLS HOLISTICALLY EDUCATE THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ENTRUSTED TO ITS CARE BY A SCHOOL COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO TEACHING MINDS AND TOUCHING HEARTS. WE TEACH OUR SCHOLARS TO LIVE A LIFE OF LEADERSHIP, MEANING, AND PURPOSE, AND TO BUILD A WORLD THAT IS JUST AND PEACEFUL.

Income
$31.7 million
Spending
$29.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
499
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$246,072, 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 (2)
  1. $17.2 million spent. CATALYST MARIA CHARTER SCHOOL IS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE SCHOOL IN THE CHICAGO LAWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE SCHOOL OPERATES TWO CLASSROOMS AT EACH GRADE LEVEL, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH WITH APPROXIMATELY 340 STUDENTS AND APPROXIMATELY 760 9TH - 12TH GRADE STUDENTS.
  2. $10.2 million spent. CATALYST SCHOOLS PARTNER WITH URBAN COMMUNITIES TO OFFER COLLEGE-PREPARATORY K-12 EDUCATION. EACH CHILD IS GIVEN A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PROGRAM SUITED TO HIS OR HER NEEDS. IN ADDITION, CATALYST HELPS EACH CHILD DEVELOP POSITIVE CHARACTER TRAITS THAT WILL HELP HIM OR HER BE AN ASSET AND CHANGE AGENT IN THE COMMUNITY. CATALYST'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A QUALITY EDUCATIONAL CHOICE TO FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC DIFFICULTY AND WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY SERVED BY EXISTING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SO THEIR CHILDREN WILL ULTIMATELY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. CATALYST HAS TWO CAMPUSES. CIRCLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE SCHOOL IN THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD AND OPENED IN FALL 2007 IN A BUILDING LEASED FROM A FORMER PRIVATE SCHOOL WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN FISCAL YEAR 2018. THE SCHOOL OPERATES TWO CLASSROOMS AT EACH GRADE LEVEL WITH APPROXIMATELY 511 STUDENTS.

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 March 2007.

    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.