Hannah Project Partnership for Academic Achievement
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 28% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
The mission of the Hannah Project is to equip students and families with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to boost academic proficiency, promote college and career attainment, honor cultural heritage, and become active and engaged citizens. We couple individual success strategies with advocacy and community engagement on behalf of the children and families we serve.
- Income
- $449,911
- Spending
- $549,750
- Spent on programs
- 28%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $78,000, execurive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1528% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $62,249 spent. Freedom School 2023: Now in our 14th year, the Hannah Freedom School is an exhilarating full day, culturally rich, social justice focused literacy program for low-income students in grades 3-8. Integrating arts, music, sports, and STEM related activities into the daily schedule, Freedom School has proved an effective tool in mitigating summer reading loss and helping students adopt reading as a leisure activity Each year elementary students read more than 11+ books as part of our integrated reading program and a half dozen more during our daily leisure Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) time. Middle school scholars read an average of three novel length books in addition to other essays and material relevant to our weekly themes. In addition, Freedom School gave out 500 books to Freedom School scholars for their home libraries and approximately 150 to other Summer Jam students. The Hannah Project participated in CDF Freedom Schools' 2023 National Assessment. The assessment measures children's reading achievement by an individually administered pre and post Basic Reading Inventory (11th edition) assessment. 25 scholars were tested, and staff, scholars and parents were surveyed to determine change in social and emotional learning skills. Test results In terms of children's reading achievement showed that of those completing pre and posttests, scholars demonstrated an average increase of eleven months in instructional reading levels. Most children (81.8%) maintained or gained instructional reading levels and did not experience summer learning loss. children of CDF Freedom Schools scholars completing a paper survey showed positive changes in their attitudes and character skills. Children were ready to participate in social action, demonstrated self-empowerment, developed conflict resolution skills, and became more engaged in academic activities after participation in the Freedom Schools program. In addition to its art, music, sportsand STEM afternoon activities, for the first time Hannah Project offered a Marin City History option as part of our afternoon activities. This learning experience included a tour of Marin City's 80th Anniversary Exhibit at the Marin Community Foundation, an interview with Felecia Gaston, the exhibit's creator, and interviews with long-time Marin City residents. These experiences are captured on a trailer that was made by 7th and 8th grade scholars in conjunction with the Pseads Institute. It is our expectation that scholars will continue to work on this video during the school year. Freedom School Field Trips included Mc Near's Beach (Joint Summer Jam); Academy of Science; Cal Skates/Rebounders/Rohnert Park; Field Day Competition/Tam (Joint Summer Jam); Aqua Adventure Water Park. The Hannah Freedom School staff held weekly parent meetings focused on literacy, health, and wellness topics during the summer. Guest presenters included a child and family life coach, family practitioner and chief medical officer from the local health clinic, and the Senior Branch Manager from the local library. Parents were also engaged as volunteer readers during Harambee, chaperones on field trips, and recess monitors during breaks. They also contributed food for our family potlucks and World Culture Day. For the Day of Social Action, Hannah Freedom School joined with over 800+ California CDF program participants from across the state for a National Day of Social Action event including local and state officials at the Golden One Center in Sacramento. Hannah Scholars were honored to introduce a new arrangement of the Negro National Anthem as part of the opening ceremony. More than 10,000 scholars participated in The Day Of Social Action across the country. (Enrollment 77 students)
- $49,748 spent. EDUCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC SERVICES FreedomSchool2/Scholar2Scholar (S2S) In 2022, concerned with the continued impact of the COVID pandemic, particularly among students entering adolescence during this period of isolation, Hannah piloted a new program we called FreedomSchool2/Scholar2Scholar focused on middle and high school students. Partnering with the Sausalito Marin City School District, Hannah provided full-time staff support on site at Dr. MLK Academy. Staff provided Tier 2 support to designated middle school students, oversight of student government, the student store, leadership development, and cultural celebrations including Hispanic Heritage Week, Black History Month, Dias de La Raza, Jazz History Month, and MLK and Caesar Chavez Day. In high school, Hannah provided part-time staffing in the Tamalpais High School District including collaboration with Tamalpais High's Success Network to monitor entering freshmen attendance, homework completion, grades and engagement in student activities. Program participants were given laptops to facilitate homework and ensure that each household could have reliable interface with online school communication. The FreedomSchool2/Scholar2Scholar program continued in 2023 with greater emphasis in the middle school program placed on behavior modification and academic preparation for high school. Dominican College provided tutors twice per week in English and Math to support student success. The S2S high school component expanded in 2023 to include both freshmen and sophomores. Parent Empowerment With the introduction of the FreedomSchool2/Scholar2Scholar program in 2022, Hannah began a parallel program with parents of enrolled students to better acquaint them with school policies and strategies to ensure that their students graduate and attend college. These quarterly meal focused meetings have continued on a quarterly basis throughout the 2022 and 2023 school year. These meetings have been augmented by periodic family night programs to foster increased family engagement.
- $24,841 spent. Advocacy Cultural & Community Engagement Reading by 3rd Grade Campaign With the startling news that half of California students do not read at grade level. For low-income Latinx 3rd graders, 66% are below grade level. For low-income African American students, 74% - more than 3 million children. To link our community's efforts with that of State Superintendent Tony Thurmond's "Reading by Third Grade" state-wide initiative, Hannah launched a READING by Third Grade campaign in the fall of 2022 with a community meeting to determine interest. In 2023, Hannah held a Reading by 3rd Grade workshop at the community's annual MLK event to bring the issue to light and concerns about the Lucy Calkins "balanced reading" curriculum currently in use in district classrooms. Subsequent workshops included the movie 'The Right to Read;" an info session with parents and other interested persons led by SMCSD teachers on reading methodologies; and other discussions around alternatives to "balanced reading" approach, including the "science of reading" a more explicit approach to teaching phonics, letters and sounds, and comprehension which many believe has been shown to be more successful with low-income students of color. These concerns and discussions have been shared with district staff and the school board with an explicit recommendation for SMCSD to pilot science of reading curriculum in the district. Save our City SAVE OUR CITY is a recently formed (2023) coalition of residents and allies who have come together to support the children and families of Marin and protect the historical legacy, rich cultural diversity and environmental integrity of our beloved community whose viability is being threatened by an aging and neglected infrastructure, gentrification, and development pressures. Headed by the Hannah Project, the coalition has opposed a large housing development at 825 Drake Project because of the safety issues it poses for nearby seniors and families who use an adjacent park. SAVE OUR CITY is seeking to purchase the property to repurpose it for child/friendly usage. Voter Information Hannah hosted two voter information nights to better inform constituents on school board candidate positions.
- $17,875 spent. Dream Keeper Scholarship The Dream Keeper Scholarship program was organized to provide academic counseling and financial support to low-income constituents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on November 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 December 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 December 2014.
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 October 21, 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.