Epic Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EPIC Academy has a shared commitment for our students to pursue excellence and high expectations for postsecondary success, working towards college and career readiness through a variety of pathways.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $5.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 72%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $266,509, executive director
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: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 37% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $4.3 million spent. Rigorous college curriculum to prepare students for college and career success. Student enrollment is approximately 260 students. EPIC Academy (the "Academy") was formed to provide educational services to high school students with a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. The Academy is supported primarily through per capita tuition payments under a performance agreement (the "Agreement") with Chicago Public Schools ("CPS") and the Chicago Board of Education (the "Board"). Additional support is provided by grants from state and federal agencies, various community and corporate foundations, and the general public. The Academy has been certified as a charter school by the Illinois State Board of Education, effective July 1, 2010. The first instruction year commenced in September 2009 with 120 students in the 9th grade. The Academy supports grades 9 through 12, to an anticipated total capacity of 600 students in future years. The Academy is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Academy will not charge tuition to any student, unless the student would otherwise be liable under the School Code, as defined within the agreement with the Board. The Academy may charge reasonable fees as permitted for textbooks, instructional material, summer school programs, after school programs and other student activities. The per capita tuition payment for each student from the Board is to be calculated on the basis of the budget adopted by the Board each fiscal year and paid to the academy on a quarterly basis. These payments are reduced by charges assessed to the Academy for services provided by CPS connected to the use of the CPS facility. The Academy may be eligible for additional funding for programs such as special education reimbursements and supplemental programs. EPIC Academy (the "Academy") was formed to provide educational services to high school students with a rigorous college preparatory curriculum. The Academy is supported primarily through per capita tuition payments under a performance agreement (the "Agreement") with Chicago Public Schools ("CPS") and the Chicago Board of Education (the "Board"). Additional support is provided by grants from state and federal agencies, various community and corporate foundations, and the general public. The Academy has been certified as a charter school by the Illinois State Board of Education, effective July 1, 2010. The first instruction year commenced in September 2009 with 120 students in the 9th grade. The Academy supports grades 9 through 12, to an anticipated total capacity of 600 students in future years. The Academy is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Academy will not charge tuition to any student, unless the student would otherwise be liable under the School Code, as defined within the agreement with the Board. The Academy may charge reasonable fees as permitted for textbooks, instructional material, summer school programs, after school programs and other student activities. The per capita tuition payment for each student from the Board is to be calculated on the basis of the budget adopted by the Board each fiscal year and paid to the academy on a quarterly basis. These payments are reduced by charges assessed to the Academy for services provided by CPS connected to the use of the CPS facility. The Academy may be eligible for additional funding for programs such as special education reimbursements and supplemental programs.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 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.