Horizons Greater Washington Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON IS A TUITION-FREE ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVING PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FAMILIES FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN WASHINGTON, DC AND MARYLAND. THEIR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BY BUILDING LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND SCHOOLS TO CREATE EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THAT INSPIRE THE JOY OF LEARNING.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 3.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 118
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $176,630, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 94% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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)
- $1.5 million spent. HORIZONS OFFERS AN INTENSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM AND SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAMMING FOR K-9 YOUTH THAT BUILD CRITICAL SKILLS IN READING, MATH, SWIMMING, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEARS AND TRANSITIONS. OVER 90% OF HORIZONS' STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS AT THE TIME OF ADMISSION AND ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS. STUDENTS EXPERIENCED GAINS IN MATH, READING, WRITING, AND SWIM PROFICIENCY IN SMALL CLASS SIZES. THE PROJECT-BASED STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH) CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON THE WHOLE CHILD WHILE ALLOWING VETERAN AND NEW PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS TO HONE THEIR CRAFT WITH US. STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HORIZONS RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 350 HOURS OF ACADEMICALLY ENRICHING EXPERIENCES AND SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY - APPROXIMATELY 30% MORE THAN THEIR PEERS.THROUGH THE NINE-YEAR COMMITMENT TO ITS YOUTH, HORIZONS BUILDS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS FOR STUDENTS WITH TRUSTED ADULTS AND PEERS. IT SUPPLEMENTS ITS INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM WITH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM THE REGULAR SCHOOL DAY AND TO PRIORITIZE THE TEACHING OF LIFE SKILLS. TO ENSURE OUR APPROACH IS STUDENT-CENTERED, HOLISTIC, AND INCLUSIVE, HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON'S PROGRAMMING ADHERES TO THE WEIKART CENTER'S PYRAMID OF PROGRAM QUALITY. THE PYRAMID'S STEPS; CREATING SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, INTERACTIVE, AND ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, INFORM ALL INSTRUCTIONAL, PROGRAMMATIC, AND SITE-SPECIFIC DECISIONS AND GOALS. IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PYRAMID OF PROGRAM QUALITY, HORIZONS FOSTERS JOYFUL AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS FULL OF ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES THAT INSPIRE YOUNG MINDS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO ENSURE ITS STUDENTS' VOICES AND THE VOICES OF THEIR CAREGIVERS DRIVE PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS. ALL OF HORIZONS' PROGRAMMING - DURING SUMMER AND ON SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAYS - IS COMPLETELY FREE FOR OUR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS. IN 2025, THE HALLMARK SUMMER PROGRAM SERVED 422 K-9 STUDENTS ACROSS THE THREE PROGRAM SITES. HORIZONS EXPERIENCED INCREASED DEMAND FROM AREA SCHOOLS, THE ADDITION OF TWO FEEDER SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO ITS BOARD AND INCREASED MAJOR GIVING SUPPORT WITH THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF ITS MAJOR GIFTS PROGRAM. HORIZONS' STAR READING AND MATH SUMMER SCORES IMPROVED, AND ATTENDANCE MET BEST-IN-CLASS SUMMER PROGRAM STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, HORIZONS' STUDENTS ARE 1.5X MORE LIKELY TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY THAN NON-HORIZONS PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON'S RESULTS WERE POWERED BY ITS NEW LOWER SCHOOL SUMMER CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM WAS DEVELOPED BY HORIZONS' PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND SITE ADVISORS - PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS FAMILIAR WITH OUR STUDENTS AND THE LOCAL EDUCATION LANDSCAPE AS WELL AS THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT SUMMER PROVIDES FOR ACCELERATING LEARNING FOR STUDENTS.EACH HGW STUDENT ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAY ACADEMY FOLLOWING THE SUMMER PROGRAM. IN ITS THIRD YEAR, WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE BOLSTERED OUR SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAY ACADEMY FROM 48 HOURS TO 108 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING ACROSS 18 SCHOOL YEAR SATURDAYS. IN THIS PROGRAM, K-8 STUDENTS DIVE INTO SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) DRIVEN BY THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES AND LED BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. THE 2024-2025 SATURDAY ACADEMY SERVED 75 K-8 STUDENTS AT ONE PROGRAM SITE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2010.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Greater Horizons (Kansas City, MO), EIN 20-0849590. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.