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The Neighborhood Academy

EIN 25-1816609 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY BY PREPARING LOW-INCOM STUDENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. WE COMMIT TO A PHILOSOPHY THAT INCLUDES THE PRACTICE OF CIVILITY, DISCIPLINED ACADEMIC WORK IN THE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

Income
$12.0 million
Spending
$6.8 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
11.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
54
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$216,518, head of scho

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

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    19 of 19 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 August 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 (2)
  1. $5.2 million spent. THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY IS AN INDEPENDENT COLLEGE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL ACCREDITED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL IS PRIVATELY FUNDED THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND FAITH COMMUNITIES. PARENTS CONTRIBUTE A SMALL MONTHLY TUITION FEE THAT IS BASED ON INCOME LEVEL. THIS TUITION REQUIREMENT INVOLVES FAMILIES AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO ASSIGN A VALUE TO EDUCATION. PARENTS ALSO SHARE THE COST OF THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION BY PARTICIPATING IN MEAL TEAMS AND CARPOOLS. LOW-INCOME STUDENTS OFTEN ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BURDENED BY THE CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY. ISSUES ARISING FROM UNSTRUCTURED HOME LIVES, CONCERNS ABOUT BASIC DAILY NEEDS, AND LACK OF ACCESS TO AN ENVIRONMENT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
  2. LINE 1 BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION (CONTINUED) HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES, ATHLETIC COMPETITION AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. WE ARE DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING THE MINDS, BODIES AND SPIRITS OF OUR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY BECOME FULLY PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY. LINE 4A - FIRST PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT (CONTINUED) IN WHICH TO STUDY AND COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS CAN WEIGH HEAVILY ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO GIVE SCHOOL WORK THE ATTENTION IT REQUIRES. THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY HAS DESIGNED A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES URBAN, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS TO FOCUS THEIR ENERGY ON PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. WE MEET A WIDE RANGE OF THEIR DAILY NEEDS WITH: -A COLLEGE-PREPARATORY CURRICULUM -AN EXTENDED SCHOOL DAY STARTING AT 8:00AM AND ENDING AT 5:30PM -SMALL CLASSES, WITH TEN OR FEWER STUDENTS PER TEACHER -THREE MEALS AND A SNACK PER DAY -TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL PROVIDED VIA PUBLIC TRANSIT (MORNING) AND CHARTERED VANS (EVENING), ALSO USE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSING. -A REQUIRED SIX-WEEK SUMMER SESSION -INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES -A FOCUS ON READING, WRITING, THE SCIENCES AND MATH, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CRITICAL THINKING AND ETHICAL REFLECTION THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM -VARSITY ATHLETICS -EXTENSIVE ARTS PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES WORK IN THE VISUAL ARTS, DRAMA, DANCE AND MUSIC -A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT EXPOSE OUR STUDENTS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS LOCAL CULTURAL AND CIVIC EVENTS -CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE - ALL STUDENTS VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND LEARN TO NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS -PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS (PSATS AND SATS) -GRADUATE SUPPORT THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY HAS GRADUATED SIXTEEN CLASSES OF SENIORS AND HAS MAINTAINED A 100% COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE. IN THE SPRING OF 2009, MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY CLASS OF 2005 BECAME COLLEGE GRADUATES - THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES. ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AND RECEIVE TUITION DISCOUNTS. THESE DISCOUNTS ARE SUBSIDIZED BY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ACADEMY'S DONORS. THE TUITION DISCOUNT LEVEL IS DETERMINED UTILIZING A NEEDS-BASED SCALE BASED ON INCOME.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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? 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? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 1999.

    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.