Foundation Academy Charter School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
As a college-preparatory school, Foundation Academy Charter Schools mission is to ensure that all of their students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nations finest colleges, and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility and honesty. Foundation Academy Charter Schools program is modeled after some of the highest performing urban charter schools in the country, and includes standardized classroom procedures, regular testing to track student progress, more time on task, a focus on values and building community, clear and innovative rewards and consequences designed to teach and emphasize positive academic and social behavior, school uniforms, 90-120 minutes of homework each night, and an overall rigorous academic program. Foundation Academy Charter School provides a longer school day and a longer school year which includes a two week summer session. Language arts and math classes are taught for more minutes each week than most sc
- Income
- $32.0 million
- Spending
- $32.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 91%
- Employees
- 267
- Highest pay
- $202,854, 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: 58 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 49% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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)
- $27.2 million spent. During the sixteenth year of operation, the 2024-2025 school year, Foundation Academy Charter School provided a full range of educational services appropriate for all students in grades Kindergarten through 12th Grade. The Educational program includes social, health and nutrition services that support the total education of the student. In addition, the educational services include regular, as well as special education instruction. Foundation Academy Charter School promotes the full involvement of parents in their childrens educational development. The Charter School completed the 2024-2025 school year with the following enrollment: 253 primary school students in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2; 255 intermediate school students were enrolled in Grades 3 through 5; 252 middle school students in Grades 6 through 8; and 328 high school students were enrolled in grades 9 thru 12. The Average Daily Enrollment (ADE) for the entire charter school for the 2023-2024 school year was 1110 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
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 August 2007.
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.