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College Access Plan

EIN 20-8371402 · Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE'RE A STUDENT-CENTERED SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT SERVES ANY STUDENT WHO OPTS INTO OUR SERVICES. CAP FOSTERS MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH ANY AND ALL COLLEGE READINESS AND SUCCESS STEPS, SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE THE JOURNEY FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION. WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS CONSIDER ALL THEIR OPTIONS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT COLLEGE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, INCOME LEVEL, OR ANY OTHER QUALIFYING FACTORS. OUR PURPOSE AND GOAL IS TO CREATE A PROGRAM THAT BEST SUITS UNIQUE STUDENTS' NEEDS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT ARE OPEN-TO-ALL. CAP SERVES AN AVERAGE OF 2,700 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY.IN JANUARY OF 2025, THE EATON FIRE TORE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. COLLEGE ACCESS PLAN RESPONDED BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING FIRE IMPACTED FAMILIES WITH IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPING PROGRAMMATIC RESOURCES TO RAPIDLY ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS AND FINANCIAL AID APPEALS SUPPORT,

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
22
Volunteers
111
Highest pay
$145,686, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 145% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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

    12 of 13 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 July 31, 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 (4)
  1. $580,431 spent. HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM:COLLEGE ACCESS PLAN (CAP) PROVIDED COLLEGE SUPPORT THROUGH TWICE WEEKLY DROP-IN SESSIONS AND INDIVIDUALIZED APPOINTMENTS AT SIX PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (PUSD) HIGH SCHOOLS AND FOUR HACIENDA LA PUENTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (HLPUSD) HIGH SCHOOLS. IN THESE SESSIONS, STUDENTS DEVELOP COLLEGE LISTS, COMPLETE COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS, APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, AND MORE. CAP ALSO PROVIDED COLLEGE 101 AND COLLEGE ESSAY WRITING COURSES FOCUSED ON NAVIGATING THE HOLISTIC ADMISSIONS PROCESS.THE PURPOSE OF CAP'S ON-CAMPUS OFFERINGS IS TO PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL COLLEGE INFORMATION TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TO FOLLOW THAT INFORMATION UP WITH PROGRAMS THAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED TO MEET EACH STUDENT'S UNIQUE COLLEGE NEEDS. THESE OFFERINGS ARE RUN IN COLLABORATION WITH ON-SITE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS AT SCHOOL SITES. THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR DROP-INS, PROVIDING NO BARRIERS TO ACCESS.2024-2025 YEAR WAS THE SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE CHAMPIONS, A YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE-GOING STUDENTS WHO ACT AS TRAINED COLLEGE ADVOCATES IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AND RECEIVE AN EARLY START IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS.
  2. $160,087 spent. MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM:CAP OFFERS COURSES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND AFTER SCHOOL AND MULTI-SESSION INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS FOR FIFTH GRADERS. THE COURSES FOCUS ON EXPLORATION OF COLLEGE, CAREER, ACADEMIC, AND PERSONAL INTERESTS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL AID, AND THEY ARE PAIRED WITH ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH A CAP STAFF MEMBER.
  3. $237,183 spent. I HEART COLLEGE:CAP SUPPORTS COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAD REGULARLY ATTENDED CAP'S HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS WITH SUPPORT THROUGH COLLEGE SUCCESS. STUDENTS RECEIVED ONLINE, IN-PERSON, AND REMOTE SUPPORT IN THIS PROGRAM. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED EXPERT SUPPORT WITH ENROLLING IN COLLEGE COURSES, RENEWING THEIR FINANCIAL AID, AND NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE LANDSCAPE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH SOCIALIZATION WITH PEERS, SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, SERVICE ON CAP'S ALUMNI ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND AS VOLUNTEERS FOR CAP'S PROGRAMS.
  4. $392,942 spent. GENERAL PROGRAMS:IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING AT KEY EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES, CONDUCTING IMPORTANT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPING MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR USE BY STUDENTS ACROSS ALL PROGRAM OFFERINGS, CAP LED COLLEGE-READINESS PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF PASADENA, THE CITY OF PASADENA, THE PASADENA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. CAP ALSO PROVIDED A FULL-SCALE PARENT-ENGAGEMENT EFFORT THAT PROVIDED WORKSHOPS AND INFORMATION TO THE FAMILIES OF THE STUDENTS CAP SERVES. PARTICIPANTS IN ALL PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS RECEIVED MATERIALS THAT INCLUDE COLLEGE-READINESS BENCHMARKS AND GUIDELINES.IN JANUARY OF 2025, THE EATON FIRE TORE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. COLLEGE ACCESS PLAN RESPONDED BY DIRECTLY SUPPORTING FIRE IMPACTED FAMILIES WITH IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, DEVELOPING PROGRAMMATIC RESOURCES TO RAPIDLY ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS AND FINANCIAL AID APPEALS SUPPORT, AND PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD LONG-TERM RESPONSE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 June 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.