Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Operation Xcel Promoting Excellent Communities Education & Leadership

EIN 26-3948215 · Stokesdale, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO PREPARE CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY, OPERATION XCEL PROVIDES FUTURE-FOCUSED AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER, AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS. WE PROMOTE ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTER GROWTH THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND TARGET-BASED OBJECTIVES, WITH A FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT. WE ARE GUIDED BY A STRONG WORK ETHIC AND A DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY BETTERMENT. THROUGH OUR ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT - TO PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, - TO SUPPORTING DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, - TO CREATING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE LONG LEARNERS, - TO FOSTERING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND TO ENCOURAGING CAREER MINDFULNESS IN OUR YOUTH.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
120
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$95,680, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. OPERATION XCEL OPERATED FOUR 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS (21ST CCLC) AND FOUR EXPANDED LEARNING AND INTEGRATED SUPPORT SITES (ELISS). THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE SERVED 810 STUDENTS AT EIGHT NORTH CAROLINA LOCATIONS: TWO STOKESDALE SITES, TWO HIGH POINT SITES, THREE GREENSBORO SITES, AND ONE JAMESTOWN SITE. MOST STUDENTS COME FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE TYPE OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE. OPERATION XCEL OFFERS OUR SERVICES FREE TO OUR FAMILIES.WE ARE GUIDED BY COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, A STRONG WORK ETHIC, AND A DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY BETTERMENT. THROUGH OUR ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS, WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT 1. TO PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, 2. TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT, 3. TO CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFELONG LEARNERS, 4. TO FOSTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND 5. TO ENCOURAGE CAREER MINDFULNESS IN OUR YOUTH. OPERATION XCEL IS A PLACE WHERE LEARNERS ARE INSPIRED TO EXCEL IN EVERY AREA OF THEIR LIVES AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGES IN THE WORLD.WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ALL THE TIME, RESOURCES, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO ATTAIN THEIR GOALS AS ANY OTHER STUDENT. WE COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM OUR PROGRAM. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROVIDE OUR SERVICES TO MORE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, WE ARE SEEKING NEW PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: OPERATION HOMEWORK IS AN ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM EMPHASIZING MATH, READING, AND SCIENCE ENRICHMENT, HOMEWORK COMPLETION, TEST PREPARATION, SOCIAL SKILL BUILDING, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EFFECTIVE STUDY HABITS. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL, WE WORK TO ESTABLISH A SUCCESSFUL PLAN FOR EACH STUDENT. EACH DAY, STUDENTS RECEIVE ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE WITH HOMEWORK, SPECIALIZED SKILL BUILDING DETERMINED BY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, HANDS ON ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES IN SCIENCE AND MATH, AND SOCIAL SKILLS/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. OPERATION 3 STEPS AHEAD IS A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM OFFERING ACADEMIC RIGOR AND ENRICHMENT IN FUN AND EXCITING LESSONS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO REAL WORLD SITUATIONS. WE ASSESSED ALL CHILDREN AND PLACED THEM IN LEVEL APPROPRIATE READING, MATH AND SCIENCE CLASSES. CERTIFIED TEACHERS WITH SPECIFIC EXPERTISE STAFFED CLASSES. STUDENTS COMPLETED POST ASSESSMENTS AT THE END OF THE SUMMER TO MEASURE GROWTH IN READING, MATH, AND SCIENCE. STUDENTS FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC WORK IN THE MORNING HOURS AND THEN HAD EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE AFTERNOONS AFTER LUNCH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SCIENCE AND MATH ENRICHMENT, EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMES, GUEST SPEAKERS AND OFF SITE RECREATION SUCH AS SWIMMING. WE PROVIDED BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.FOR 2024 -2025, OPERATION XCEL'S ASSESSMENTS AND DATA HAVE YIELDED THE FOLLOWING RESULTS:1. OPERATION XCEL PROVIDED 130,736 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE 2. 97% OF THE STUDENTS TEACHERS CONFIRM STUDENTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT 3. 50 TO 91% OF 8TH GRADERS WERE PROFICIENT IN SCIENCE 4. OPERATION XCEL SAW A GROWTH IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS PROFICIENCY OF 50 TO 89% 5. OPERATION XCEL SAW A GROWTH IN MATH PROFICIENCY IN 92% OF STUDENTS BY 27% 6. OPERATION XCEL SAW A 85% DECREASE IN IMPULSIVITY THE VALUE OF NON-CASH DONATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:DONATED MEALS: $ 113,613DONATED FACILITIES: $ 321,440DONATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: $ 8,750

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 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 August 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 September 2010.

    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.