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Center for Powerful Public Schools

EIN 26-0326342 · South Pasadena, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 144 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE CENTER BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF EDUCATORS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN POWERFUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT PREPARE EVERY STUDENT FOR COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE.

Income
$715,200
Spending
$683,830
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
6
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$77,917, chief executive officer

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: 15 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 109% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 144 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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $508,099 spent. THE CENTER PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND DISTRICTS IN HIGH-NEED AREAS TO CREATE SYSTEMIC EDUCATIONAL EQUITY FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:POWERFUL PATHWAYS: FOCUSED PROGRAMS THAT BUILD THE CAPACITY OF EDUCATORS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER. POWERFUL EDUCATORS: COACHING AND ASSESSMENT SUPPORTS BUILD THE CAPACITY OF EDUCATORS TO CREATE EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT MEET STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL NEEDS SO THEY ARE PREPARED TO THRIVE NOW AND AS ADULTS. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCH OPOWERFUL COMMUNITIES: CONNECTING SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS WITH A BROAD SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL LEARNING RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS.THE CENTER'S WORK SUPPORTS OVER 400 TEACHERS AND BENEFITS OVER 11,500 STUDENTS ANNUALLY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2008.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.