Aspire Education Project
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IN THE BAY AREA HAS ACCESS TO A TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL MENTOR.
- Income
- $876,786
- Spending
- $741,307
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 48%
- Employees
- 58
- Volunteers
- 407
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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $519,587 spent. ASPIRE EDUCATION IS THE BAY AREA'S LEADER IN EFFECTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING. FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, WE HAVE DELIVERED REAL RESULTS TO OVER 15,000 STUDENTS BY CONNECTING THEM TO A SMALL COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS AND MENTORS STOCKED WITH CONTENT EXPERTISE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. WE ARE DRIVEN BY THE CONVICTION THAT ALTHOUGH POTENTIAL IS EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED ACROSS LINES OF RACE AND CLASS, OPPORTUNITY IS NOT. ASPIRE IS DEDICATED TO INTERRUPTING PATTERNS OF INEQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE SHARED VISION THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUALLY HIGH OUTCOMES WITHOUT REGARD TO WHERE THEY START IN LIFE.ASPIRE HAS THREE MAIN SERVICE OFFERINGS:-COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND SUPPORT. ASPIRE HAS PARTNERED WITH DOZENS OF BAY AREA ORGANIZATIONS TO DESIGN CUSTOM PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER STUDENTS TO REACH GREATER RESULTS IN COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS OR INCREASE CONFIDENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS IN SUBJECTS IN WHICH THEY'VE STRUGGLED. WHILE MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS TYPICALLY DEAL WITH THE SAT, ACT, OR HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMS, OUR SPECIALISTS PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT IN ALL SUBJECTS.-ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING. THROUGH A TEAM OF TUTORS STOCKED WITH CONTENT EXPERTISE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, ASPIRE PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ON A SLIDING SCALE FEE BASIS. ASPIRE'S APPROACH TO TUTORING AS EDUCATIONAL MENTORSHIP NOT ONLY LEADS TO GREATER CONFIDENCE AND IMPROVED GRADES, BUT ALSO EMPOWERS OUR STUDENTS TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL CAREERS.-COMMUNITY READING BUDDIES. COMMUNITY READING BUDDIES MOBILIZES BAY AREA YOUNG ADULTS TO MENTOR YOUNGER STUDENTS IN LITERACY AND IGNITE THEM WITH A PASSION FOR READING. IN TURN, THE YOUNG ADULTS ARE TRAINED IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT PREPARE THEM TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
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 July 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.