Unity Charter School
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
THE UNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (UCS) WAS CHARTERED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN JANUARY 1997 AS THE ONLY CHARTER SCHOOL THAT HAD INCLUDED A PLANNING YEAR PRIOR TO ITS OPENING. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS TO THE FIRST 60 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-7 IN SEPTEMBER, 1998, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CHARTER. UCS MAINTAINED THAT ENROLLMENT LEVEL THROUGH THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR. UCS NOW OPERATES A K-8 PROGRAM, IN WHICH STUDENTS THRIVE IN A MULTI-AGE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE ENCOURAGING EACH CHILD TO GROW ACADEMICALLY, UCS INTEGRATES PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CLASSROOM SUPPORT AS WELL AS THE GOVERNANCE OF THE SCHOOL.
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $6.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- -2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 65
- Highest pay
- $168,600, 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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% 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
0 of 20It owes 141% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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)
- $4.7 million spent. UNITY CHARTER SCHOOL COMPLETED ITS TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR OF OPERATION AS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 8 PUBLIC SCHOOL OF CHOICE WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. THE CHARTER SCHOOL OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL, NUTRITIONAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS, TO ALL STUDENTS GRADES K THROUGH 8. UCS ENDED THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR WITH AN ENROLLMENT OF 254 STUDENTS.UCS HOLDS WEEKLY SCHOOL MEETINGS, INCORPORATING PEER MEDIATION AND CLASS MEETINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS MISSION OF COLLABORATIVE TEACHING AND GOVERNANCE. IN FURTHER ACCORDANCE WITH ITS MISSION, SUSTAINABILITY IS TAUGHT THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR ON OUR ECOSYSTEM, USING LEARING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FIELD TRIPS, CLASS CURRICULUM AND INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS. THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANTED UCS ANOTHER RENEWAL IN THE 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR FOR FIVE (5)YEARS, AS THE CHARTER SCHOOL CONTINUES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AND PROVIDING A POSITIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH FOR ITS SCHOLARS.
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 February 2020.
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.