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Connected the National Center for College and Career

EIN 20-4781979 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTED: THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL, DISTRICT, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION THROUGH LINKED LEARNING PATHWAYS SO THAT ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, ARE PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, CAREER, COMMUNITY AND LIFE.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$4.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
17
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$347,309, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 25

    6 of 7 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 September 30, 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 (2)
  1. $2.2 million spent. DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT HIGH QUALITY COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS: WE SUPPORT DISTRICT AND SITE LEADERS THROUGH COACHING AND DIGITAL TOOLS TO HELP PATHWAY TEACHER TEAMS ESTABLISH THE STRUCTURES AND CONDITIONS FOR EQUITABLE STUDENT SUCCESS, THROUGH RIGOROUS COLLEGE-READY ACADEMICS INTEGRATED WITH SEQUENCED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, WORK-BASED LEARNING, INTEGRATED SUPPORTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO POST-SECONDARY.
  2. $1.4 million spent. STRENGHTHEN CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING, TEACHING AND LEADING: WE PARTNER WITH SITE AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TEAMS TO DESIGN, SUPPORT, AND SUSTAIN IMPACTFUL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THROUGH COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT USE EVIDENCE-BASED CYCLES OF INQUIRY, ANALYSES OF STUDENT AND ADULT WORK, PROTOCOLS FOR EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION, AND A VARIETY OF ONLINE TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND EXEMPLARS. WE HELP LEADERSHIP TEAMS TO EXAMINE CURRENT CONDITIONS, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EQUITABLE POLICIES, SYSTEMS, AND STRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINING, EXPANDING, AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING PATHWAYS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO POST-SECONDARY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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