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Core Scholars

EIN 23-0355320 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION ("CORE") IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION FOUNDED IN PHILADELPHIA, PA IN 2003. CORE WAS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE PREP ASSISTANCE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. CORE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE ONLY APPLICABLE TO STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN PHILADELPHIA. CORE IS A NONPROFIT INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO UNITE COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GOAL OF ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO COLLEGE. CORE'S PREMIER PROGRAM, THE RISE FINANCIAL LITERACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, IS A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PROGRAM THAT OFFERS ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS - WHETHER FROM PUBLIC, PRIVATE CHARTER OR PAROCHIAL SYSTEMS - IN PHILADELPHIA A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CORE ISSUES AWARDS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. CORE IS PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY A CHARITABLE TRUST AND GRANTS FROM FEDERAL ENTITIES.

Income
$237,942
Spending
$266,430
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
112.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
2

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 112.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $77,500 spent. CORE PROVIDE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED FULL TIME AS A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, AND STUDENTS ATTENDING A PHILADELPHIA 2 OR 4-YEAR COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TRADE SCHOOL; ALSO PROVIDED A STEADY FLOW OF COLLEGE PREP RESOURCE INFORMATION AND IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID/COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS TARGETED TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE RISE FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL PHILADELPHIA RESIDENT PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER, OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP RECEIPIENTS ARE AWARDED THE RISE FINANCIAL LITERACY SCHOLARSHIP'S AMOUNT AFTER THEIR RISE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE AND APPROVED BY CORE. VERIFICATION/CONFIRMATION OF FULL TIME ATTENDANCE AT AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION INSTITUION'S FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. THE AWARD CHECK IS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE EDUCATION INSTITUTION ON THE STUDENT'S BEHALF. THE EDUCATION INSTITUTION THEN APPLIES THE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE STUDENT'S ACCOUNT BALANCE. NO SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CHECKS ARE GIVEN TO STUDENTS DIRECTLY. ALL CHECKS GO DIRECTLY TO THE INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES. CORE PROVIDE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS TO PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED FULL TIME AS A GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, AND STUDENTS ATTENDING A PHILADELPHIA 2 OR 4-YEAR COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR TRADE SCHOOL; ALSO PROVIDED A STEADY FLOW OF COLLEGE PREP RESOURCE INFORMATION AND IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID/COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS TARGETED TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE RISE FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL PHILADELPHIA RESIDENT PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER, OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIP RECEIPIENTS ARE AWARDED THE RISE FINANCIAL LITERACY SCHOLARSHIP'S AMOUNT AFTER THEIR RISE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE AND APPROVED BY CORE. VERIFICATION/CONFIRMATION OF FULL TIME ATTENDANCE AT AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION INSTITUION'S FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. THE AWARD CHECK IS SENT DIRECTLY TO THE EDUCATION INSTITUTION ON THE STUDENT'S BEHALF. THE EDUCATION INSTITUTION THEN APPLIES THE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE STUDENT'S ACCOUNT BALANCE. NO SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CHECKS ARE GIVEN TO STUDENTS DIRECTLY. ALL CHECKS GO DIRECTLY TO THE INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES.
  2. $145,567 spent. PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDER-SERVED YOUTH IN PHILADELPHIA AREA.
  3. PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNDER-SERVED YOUTH IN PHILADELPHIA AREA.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2018 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.