Onward We Learn
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE AT ONWARD WE LEARN PREPARE AND INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE IN RHODE ISLAND TO BECOME THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND AND COMPLETE COLLEGE.
- Income
- $6.7 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 18.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 85%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 16
- Highest pay
- $235,345, president & ceo
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 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
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 (4)
- $1.5 million spent. ONWARD WE LEARN ADVISORY:EACH YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION RECRUITS A NEW CLASS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES (6-8) AND PROVIDES THEM WITH ONGOING SERVICES THROUGH THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE. SERVICES INCLUDE COACHING AND MENTORING SERVICES, WHICH ARE DELIVERED BY 30 ADVISORS WHO OPERATE IN 40 MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND AT THE STATE'S THREE PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. WE ALSO PROVIDE DOZENS OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS TO STUDENTS THAT FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EDUCATION, AND POSTSECONDARY PREPARATION. ONWARD WE LEARN ADVISORS WORK CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS TO HELP IDENTIFY AND CONSIDER THE POSTSECONDARY PATHWAY THAT IS THE BEST FIT FOR THEM AND WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER RESOURCES TO MAKE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION AFFORDABLE.
- $814,417 spent. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:IN FY 2025, WE PROVIDED $814,417 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO 604 STUDENTS TO SUPPORT POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS. THESE RESOURCES WERE CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING COLLEGE PERSISTENCE AND COLLEGE COMPLETION EFFORTS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS STUDYING ONWARD WE LEARN DISCOVERED THAT ONWARD WE LEARN GEAR UP PARTICIPANTS IN RHODE ISLAND WERE 48% MORE LIKELY THAN THEIR CLOSELY MATCHED PEERS TO EARN A COLLEGE CREDENTIAL WITHIN SIX YEARS OF EXPECTED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. ACROSS EVERY MAJOR MILESTONE ON-TIME GRADE PROGRESSION, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, AND COLLEGE COMPLETION ONWARD WE LEARN GEAR UP PARTICIPANTS SIGNIFICANTLY OUTPERFORMED COMPARISON STUDENTS. ONWARD PROGRAM OUTCOME REVEALED PARTICULARLY STRONG IMPACTS FOR LOW-INCOME, BLACK, AND HISPANIC STUDENTS, AND FOR STUDENTS WITH LOWER ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY OR BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS. ONWARD WE LEARN'S LARGEST CUMULATIVE GAINS OCCURRED BECAUSE FEWER STUDENTS "FELL OFF" AT KEY TRANSITION POINTS FROM 6TH GRADE THROUGH POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
- $133,561 spent. ONWARD WE LEARN FAFSA STUDENT SUPPORT: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN THE ONWARD WE LEARN PROGRAM IS A STUDENT'S SUBMISSION OF THE FAFSA FORM (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID). FAFSA COMPLETION IS PREDOMINANTLY A 12TH GRADE ACTIVITY, BUT IT IS OFTEN DISCUSSED AND HIGHLIGHTED THROUGHOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. IN FY 2025, ONWARD SUPPORTED THE COMPLETION NEARLY 400 FAFSA FORMS. THIS INCLUDED AN 84% FAFSA COMPLETION RATE. ONWARD WE LEARN CONTINUED TO BE A STATEWIDE LEADER IN FAFSA SUPPORT AND SUPPORTING ALL TYPES OF FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHALLENGES IN NAVIGATING THE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM.
- $2.8 million spent. THE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM PRIMARILY LIES IN OUR SEAMLESS SYSTEM OF STEADY ADULT SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS FROM GRADE 6 TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. WE PLACE A TEAM OF 25 FULL-TIME MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ADVISORS IN 35 SCHOOLS IN OUR TARGET DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR TO PERSONALIZE THE COLLEGE-BOUND EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAMS. THESE ADVISORS FORGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE HIGH ACADEMIC GOALS AND RUN VARIOUS AFTER-SCHOOL, WEEKEND, AND SCHOOL VACATION AND SUMMER PROGRAMS TO MEET STUDENTS' ACADEMIC, PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE READINESS AND CAREER EXPLORATION NEEDS. ADVISORS ARE A DIVERSE GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES FACE, SINCE MANY OF THEM ARE ALUMNI OR COME FROM RHODE ISLAND'S URBAN COMMUNITIES.
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 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 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 April 1990.
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.