College Is Real Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to change the college-going culture in Richmonds high schools in order to uplift the community by having more of its students, who are mostly low-income people of color, attend and be the first in their families to graduate from college.
- Income
- $1.5 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $132,750, executive dir.
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 64% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 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.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $1.2 million spent. In 2024-2025, College Is Real, Inc. (CIR) served over 450 high school students at Richmond's three public high schools (Richmond, De Anza and Kennedy) in Richmond, CA. Students are admitted to the CIR program after submitting an application, having an interview with the program director and meeting certain academic criteria. CIR's objective is to have a 100% high school graduation rate and 90-100% of its members accepted to four-year colleges. CIR provides academic counseling, after-school tutoring and study hall throughout the school year. CIR pays for SAT and ACT testing registration and college applications for those students who don't otherwise have sufficient personal or government funding. CIR provides college tours for its students as well as site visits to local companies. CIR also organizes and sponsors various community service activities for its members in order to give them the opportunity to "Give Back" to the community while helping strengthen their college applications. CIR awards scholarships to its graduating seniors depending upon which university or college they are attending. The scholarships typically average $2,000 per student and are awarded at the annual awards night. CIR also provides merit scholarships to its alumni attending college. There is also a College Success Program that helps ensure an effective transition for the students into freshman year and to persevere through to college graduation.
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 September 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.