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Success Academy Charter Schools Inc

EIN 20-5298861 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BUILD EXCEPTIONAL, WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT EMPOWER CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND LIFE, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$188.0 million
Spending
$153.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-10.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 46%
Employees
703
Volunteers
579
Highest pay
$1.2 million, ceo&president of national strategy&adv.

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 55% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (1)
  1. $129.5 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORTING SERVICES TO FIFTY NINE DISCTINCT CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE BRONX, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, AND MANHATTAN BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY. THE NETWORK'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1) HIRING EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS AND STAFF TO ADVISE ON SCHOOLS' DEVELOPMENT; 2) RESEARCHING AND DOCUMENTING THE SUCCESSFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF K-12 SCHOOLS SUCH AS THOSE AFFILIATED WITH THE NETWORK; 3) CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING A PLAN FOR THE REPLICATION OF THE SUCCESS ACADEMIES; 4) PROVIDING RESOURCES TO NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS, SUCH AS ASSISTANCE RECRUITING LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF, RECRUITING STUDENTS, AND FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHARED SERVICES, CURRICULA, AND FACILITIES; 5) PERFORMING RESEARCH ON POLICIES THAT CAN INCREASE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO POLICIES RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS; 6) SUPPORTING EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH SIMILAR GOALS; 7) PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WITHIN THE NETWORK OR STUDENTS OF NEED TO ALLOW THEM TO PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE; AND 8) OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT.

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 November 6, 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 August 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 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.