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Esperanza Academy Charter School

EIN 23-2853988 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

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

IN 1987 THE HISPANIC CLERGY OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDED AND INCORPORATED THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION NUEVA ESPERANZA, INC. (NEI), DBA ESPERANZA, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NEIS EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HISPANIC CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIVING IN PHILADELPHIAS HUNTING PARK COMMUNITY. NEIS INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON CREATING QUALITY EDUCATION DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES INCLUDE FOUNDING ESPERANZA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL AS A CONTINUED EFFORT TO RAISE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LEVELS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATION. ESPERANZA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL IS A CHARTER SCHOOL LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. THE SCHOOL SERVES GRADES ONE AND SIX THROUGH TWELVE. THE SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED AND OPERATES UNDER THE PROVISIONS ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN 1997. IN SEPTEMBER 2000 NEI RECEIVED A CHARTER FOR THE OPENING OF ESPERANZA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL AND IS CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDE

Income
$35.7 million
Spending
$41.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
-44 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 84%
Employees
367
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$288,950, lead director of instruction

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

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 112% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • 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. $34.5 million spent. In 1987 the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia founded and incorporated the non-profit organization Nueva Esperanza, Inc. (NEI), dba Esperanza, to provide support to Hispanic communities. For more than 30 years NEI's efforts have focused on creating opportunities for Hispanic children and families living in Philadelphia's Hunting Park community. NEI's intentional focus on creating quality education delivery systems and facilities include founding Esperanza Academy Charter School as a continued effort to raise the economic and social levels of the Hispanic community through quality education. Esperanza Academy Charter School is a charter school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The School serves grades one and six through twelve. The School was established and operates under the provisions enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1997. In September 2000 NEI received a charter for the opening of Esperanza Academy Charter School and is currently operating under a charter school contract ending on June 30, 2019. Esperanza Academy Charter School has financial accountability and control over all activities related to the students' education. The School receives funding from local, state, and federal government sources and must comply with the requirements of these funding source entities.

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 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 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 October 1998.

    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.