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Heights Philadelphia

EIN 23-1365983 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HEIGHTS IS A NEW KIND OF ORGANIZATION, AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY CATALYST. WE BELIEVE THAT CREATING PATHWAYS TO EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE SUCCESS FOR LOW-INCOME, BLACK AND BROWN, AND FIRST-GENERATION-TO-COLLEGE STUDENTS IS THE KEYSTONE OF A MORE EQUITABLE AND PROSPEROUS PHILADELPHIA. HEIGHTS IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING THOSE PATHWAYS THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVISING, INDUSTRY-ALIGNED PROGRAMMING, TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, AND A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT THAT INVESTS AND BELIEVES IN STUDENTS AND THEIR RIGHT TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY. AS A RESULT, STUDENTS HAVE DEFINED PATHWAYS TO KEY INDUSTRIES THAT PROVIDE FAMILY-SUSTAINING PAY AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION. THEY HAVE AN ACTIONABLE POSTSECONDARY PLAN, ARE PREPARED FOR THEIR POSTSECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES, AND FEEL SUPPORTED BY AND CONNECTED TO A LARGER NETWORK OF PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN THEIR SUCCESS.

Income
$14.1 million
Spending
$12.7 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
212
Volunteers
160
Highest pay
$300,907, president & ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $5.6 million spent. K-12 PROGRAMS: AT HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA, OUR WORK FOCUSES ON CONNECTING EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY WITH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO FIX THE GENERATIONAL POVERTY THAT PLAGUES OUR CITY AND NARROWS OUR STUDENTS' PATHS TO PROSPERITY. MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON A HIGH SCHOOL SELECTION ADVISING CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND BROWN UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AT SDP CRITERIA-BASED, HIGH PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOLS. HEIGHTS STAFF ARE EMBEDDED IN FOUR K-8 SCHOOLS AND OUR IMPACT WILL SPAN DISTRICT-WIDE BY OFFERING WORKSHOPS FOR ALL FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF TEACHERS TO ADVISE STUDENTS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL SELECTION PROCESS. IN THE SUMMER BEFORE 9TH GRADE, COMPREHENSIVE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAMMING WILL ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL.HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON SCHOOL-WIDE COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS RECRUITING COHORTS OF STUDENTS FOR ADVISING, ENRICHMENT, AND EQUITY BASED PROGRAMMING. HEIGHTS STAFF ARE EMBEDDED IN 19 SDP HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE 22-23 YEAR. HEIGHTS COORDINATORS LEAD THE COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS RECRUIT COHORTS OF 25 STUDENTS PER GRADE FOR ADVISING, ENRICHMENT, AND EQUITY BASED PROGRAMMING. HEIGHTS ADVISORS PROVIDE 1:1 ADVISING. SCHOOL-WIDE OFFERINGS INCLUDE FAFSA SUPPORT, COLLEGE EXPOSURE, CAREER DAYS, AND DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES FOR COLLEGE CREDIT, TUTORING, INTERNSHIPS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. COLLGE AND CAREER PROGRAMS: COLLEGE PROGRAMMING ENSURES THAT STUDENTS WHO MATRICULATE TO COLLEGE HAVE THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. HEIGHTS STAFF PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING, CAMPUS VISITS, AND PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS FROM PHILADELPHIA AT COLLEGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WILL EXPAND ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT NEW COHORTS OF STUDENTS. HEIGHTS ALSO PROVIDES EACH COLLEGIAN WITH STIPENDS TO ASSIST WITH INDIRECT COSTS SUCH AS BOOKS AND TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF SUMMER CLASSES IF NEEDED TO INCREASE PERSISTENCE. HEIGHTS HAS 21 AGREEMENTS WITH UNIVERSITIES THAT PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND ON-CAMPUS SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. CAREER PROGRAMMING WILL SIMPLIFY THE PATH TO EMPLOYMENT BY GUIDING STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY TO LIFE SUSTAINING CAREERS WITH A 5 STEP PROCESS: EXPOSURE, EXPLORATION, PLANNING, OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT. HEIGHTS HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A GROUP OF ANCHOR PARTNERS THAT WILL PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS, MENTORING, AND SCALED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. WE WISH TO FOCUS ON EXPOSURE TO CAREERS IN THE LIFE SCIENCES, STEM, AND TECHNOLOGY; CAREERS WHERE THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS WE SERVE HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED. EQUITY BASED TRAINING AND SERVICES WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR PARTNERS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS ENTERING THEIR WORKPLACE.
  3. $1.5 million spent. COMMUNITY ACCESS PATHWAYS AND STEP UP TO COLLEGE: HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA'S OUTREACH FUTURES INITIATIVE BRINGS THE ORGANIZATION'S SERVICES AND EXPERTISE TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY. OUTREACH FUTURES OFFERS A RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT PHILADELPHIA. A KEY COMPONENT OF HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA'S OUTREACH SERVICES IS THE ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF STEP UP TO COLLEGE: PHILADELPHIA'S GUIDE TO THE COLLEGE PREPARATION, APPLICATION AND ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID PROCESSES. COPIES OF THE GUIDE ARE DISTRIBUTED TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THE FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA WITHOUT COST TO REMOVE ANY BARRIERS TO ACCESS. CONTENT FROM THE GUIDE ALSO IS AVAILABLE THROUGH DIGITAL MEDIA.
  4. $301,835 spent. HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE CHARLES E. ELLIS TRUST TO ADMINISTER FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FOR TUITION AND EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT. EXPENSES ARE THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST. ADDITIONALLY, HEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA ADMINISTERED 2 PROGRAMS IN PHILADELPHIA WHICH AWARDED STUDENTS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

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

  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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 June 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 May 1949.

    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 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.