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Communities in Schools of Philadelphia Inc

EIN 23-2410538 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Create educational and occupational opportunities for students and adults, launching them towards success in school and in life.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
201
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$174,786, president

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: 42 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $5.7 million spent. DESCIRPTION OF THE THREE LARGEST MAJOR PROGRAM SERVICES IS AS FOLLOWS: ELECT (EDUCATION LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER TRAINING). ELECT ASSISTS PREGNANT OR PARENTING STUDENTS IN THE COMPLETION OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION OR EQUIVALENCY. ELECT STUDENTS RECEIVE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS INTO SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND PARENTHOOD. LAUNCH'S SITE COORDINATORS PROVIDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT; PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT TRAINING; HEALTH AND NUTRITION SEMINARS; ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT;AND LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. A COMPONENT OF ELECT IS A FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO YOUNG MEN WHO ARE PARENTING. URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA, LAUNCH DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS DIGITAL NCLUSION ISSUES WITHIN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. THE URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AND EDUCATION, PROMOTING OWNERSHIP OF KNOWLEDGE, PROBLEM SOLVING AND SELF-RELIANCE. THE URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT INCLUDES THE DIGITAL SERVICE FELLOWS AND COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS DESCRIBED BELOW. DIGITAL SERVICE FELLOWS (""DSF""). DSF IS A FULL-TIME AMERICORPS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN BOTH SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN PURSUING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD. DSF PARTICIPANTS LEARN UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL AND ACTIVELY APPLY THE SKILLS LEARNED BY INSTALLING NEW EQUIPMENT OR REPAIRING EXISTING EQUIPMENT IN SCHOOLS AND BY LEADING SCHOOL-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS (""CSS""). LAUNCH AND THE SDOP HAVE ALSO PARTNERED TO CREATE THE CSS PROGRAM. CSS PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO 56 SCHOOLS AND 4 CENTRAL OFFICES OF THE SDOP. THIS PROGRAM COMPLEMENTS THE DSF INITIATIVE AND ALLOWS RECENT GRADUATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A ONE OR TWO YEARS AS A PRE-APPRENTICE WITH MASTER TECHNICIANS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA. URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA, LAUNCH DEVELOPED A PROGRAM TO ADDRESS DIGITAL INCLUSION ISSUES WITHIN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. THE URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT PROVIDES YOUTH WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AND EDUCATION, PROMOTING OWNERSHIP OF KNOWLEDGE, PROBLEM SOLVING AND SELF-RELIANCE. THE URBAN TECHNOLOGY PROJECT INCLUDES THE DIGITAL SERVICE FELLOWS AND COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS DESCRIBED BELOW. DIGITAL SERVICE FELLOWS (""DSF""). DSF IS A FULL-TIME AMERICORPS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN BOTH SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN PURSUING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIELD. DSF PARTICIPANTS LEARN UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL AND ACTIVELY APPLY THE SKILLS LEARNED BY INSTALLING NEW EQUIPMENT OR REPAIRING EXISTING EQUIPMENT IN SCHOOLS AND BY LEADING SCHOOL-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS AND WORKSHOPS. COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS (""CSS""). LAUNCH AND THE SDOP HAVE ALSO PARTNERED TO CREATE THE CSS PROGRAM. CSS PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO 56 SCHOOLS AND 4 CENTRAL OFFICES OF THE SDOP. THIS PROGRAM COMPLEMENTS THE DSF INITIATIVE AND ALLOWS RECENT GRADUATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A ONE OR TWO YEARS AS A PRE-APPRENTICE WITH MASTER TECHNICIANS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA.

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 July 1988.

    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.

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