Serving Our Children Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SOC IS COMMITTED TO THE CONCEPT THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF INCOME, ZIP CODE, OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. ALL STUDENTS ARE CAPABLE OF LEARNING AND EXCELLING IN LIFE, AND A QUALITY EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCH ACHIEVEMENT. TO THIS END, SOC IS DEDICATED TO THE MISSION OF ALLOWING PARENTS ACCESS TO AS MANY SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING ATTENDING A PUBLIC, CHARTER, OR PRIVATE SCHOOL. SOC IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON PROVIDING A PRIVATE SCHOOL "OPPORTUNITY" TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AS ONE OPTION OF SCHOOL CHOICE.
- Income
- $17.3 million
- Spending
- $17.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 100%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $139,890, mgr, family & community engagement
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 101% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 September 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 (2)
- $15.9 million spent. SOC PROCESSED 3,216 APPLICATIONS FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2025. SOC REVIEWS EACH APPLICATION TO DETERMINE IF THE INCOME AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. ULTIMATELY, 1,409 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS, ACCEPTED AT A PARTICIPATING PRIVATE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOOSING, AND USED THEIR SCHOLARSHIP DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, THE MAXIMUM SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT WAS $10,000 FOR GRADES K THROUGH 8, AND $15,000 FOR GRADES 9 THROUGH 12.
- $8,108 spent. SERVING OUR CHILDREN SERVES A VERY LOW-INCOME POPULATION. SOC RECOGNIZED THAT FOR MANY OF OUR PARENTS, THE APPLICATION FEE TO SCHOOLS CAN PRESENT A BARRIER TO APPLYING TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS. SOC HAS DESIRED THAT OUR PARENTS WOULD APPLY TO MULTIPLE SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO FIND THE BEST SCHOOL POSSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD. TO ENCOURAGE MORE APPLICATIONS FROM OUR FAMILIES, SOC SUBSIDIZES UP TO FIVE APPLICATIONS PER STUDENT, PER YEAR, AS WELL AS ALL REQUIRED TESTING AND EVALUATIONS THAT OUR SCHOOLS MAY REQUIRE FOR ACCEPTANCE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 2022.
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 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.