Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Girls Athletic Leadership School of Denver

EIN 27-0736802 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$5.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
63
Volunteers
328
Highest pay
$108,388, executive director (outgoing)

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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (2)
  1. $4.9 million spent. GALS delivers core academic instruction aligned to national and state standards, complemented by a dedicated Social Emotional Learning (SEL) course at each grade level. The school implements a holistic, movement-based instructional model that integrates physical activity into daily classroom learning to promote student engagement, physical wellness, and academic achievement. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, character growth, and health and wellness as foundational components of student success. Enrollment as of June 30, 2025 totaled 282 students, including 223 middle school students and 59 high school students. The year ended June 30, 2025 marked the final year of high school operations. The decision to discontinue the high school program followed a comprehensive review of enrollment trends, academic performance data, and long-term financial projections. Based on this analysis, the Board determined that continuing the high school program would not allow the organization to sustain programmatic quality aligned with the GALS mission. The school worked closely with students and families to support a successful transition to other educational opportunities within the Denver charter and district community. Following the high school closure, the middle school program remains stable and financially sound, with enrollment increasing by an average of 8% annually over the past three years. The Middle School also achieved a green rating this year on the state of Colorado's School Performance Framework, which is the highest rating a school can earn for academic growth and achievement. GALS prioritizes investment in instructional staff and student support services to ensure strong academic outcomes. Salaries and benefits represent approximately 72% of the annual operating budget, supporting a favorable teacher-to-student ratio of approximately 14:1.
  2. The Girls Athletic Leadership School, Denver (GALS) is the only public, all-girls charter school in the State of Colorado. GALS' mission is to empower young women to succeed academically, lead confidently, live boldly, and thrive physically. Founded in 2010, the school provides a comprehensive educational program serving students in grades 6-12 during the 2024-2025 school year.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2012.

    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 October 2014.

    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.