Tandem Partners in Early Learning
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TANDEM, PARTNERS IN EARLY LEARNING IS A BAY AREA NONPROFIT WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. WE WORK ALONGSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CO-CREATE EQUITABLE, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE ENVISION A JUST SOCIETY WHERE CHILDREN THRIVE. WE ARE COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOPING AN ECOSYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN WHEREVER THEY GO: IN THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, CHILD CARE, LIBRARIES, HEALTH CENTERS, PARKS, AND MORE. BY PARTNERING WITH ADULTS ACROSS CHILDREN'S LIVES, WE DELIVER IMPACTFUL EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT MEET COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $164,648, president/executive director
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 11 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 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)
- $1.0 million spent. EARLY LEARNING EVERYWHERE - FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL BY PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS. ELE PROGRAMS INCLUDE: CAREGIVER & FAMILY SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS, LITERACY CHAMPIONS, GIVE ME 5, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, ETC. (SEE TANDEM'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR MORE INFO)
- $1.6 million spent. STORYCYCLES, OUR SCHOOL-TO-HOME BOOK-SHARING PROGRAM, PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH THE ACCESS THEY NEED TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS. OUR MULTILINGUAL BOOKS ARE AGE- AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE, AND ARE SENT HOME WITH CHILDREN ON A WEEKLY BASIS FROM SCHOOLS, FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTERS, AND OTHER TANDEM PARTNER SITES THROUGHOUT SAN FRANCISCO, ALAMEDA, AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
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
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 June 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 September 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.
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.