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Passes our checks

Childrens Scholarship Fund Baltimore

EIN 31-1480933 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CSFB AWARDS KINDERGARTEN TO 8TH GRADE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOW INCOME BALTIMORE CITY FAMILIES WITHOUT REGARD TO GENDER, RACE, GRADES OR TEST SCORES, ETHNICITY OR RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

Income
$757,997
Spending
$881,425
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
12 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
2
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$107,000, 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 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 (1)
  1. $703,296 spent. CSFB KNOWS THAT PARENTS WANT TO CHOOSE A SCHOOL FOR THEIR CHILDREN THAT WILL MEET THEIR NEEDS - SOCIALLY, ACADEMICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND STRUCTURALLY. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE CHOICE TO EVERY FAMILY - REGARDLESS OF INCOME LEVEL. CONCURRENT WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION REFORMS IN BALTIMORE, PRIVATELY-FUNDED SCHOOL CHOICE REMAINS AN OPTION THAT HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN - THERE ARE CONSISTENTLY MORE THAN 900 STUDENTS FROM 400 FAMILIES ON OUR WAITING LIST. CSFB IS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN BALTIMORE CITY THAT AWARDS KINDERGARTEN-8TH GRADE SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITHOUT REGARD TO GENDER, RACE, GRADES OR TEST SCORES, ETHINICITY OR RELIGIOIUS BELIEF. THE ONLY REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT OUR FAMILIES:1. MEET CSFB INCOME ELIGIBILITY - AT OR BELOW 270% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL;2. CONTRIBUTE A MINIMUM OF $500 PER YEAR PER CHILD IN TUITION;3. RESIDE IN BALTIMORE CITY;4. ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN MAINTIAN A 90% ATTENDANCE RATE AT SCHOOL.WE BELIEVE THAT A STUDENT'S ECONOMIC STATUS SHOULD BE NEITHER A BARRIER TO THE SCHOOL OF HIS OR HER CHOICE, NOR A VARIABLE IN HIS OR HER SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLE CHILDREN TO BUILD CRITICAL ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SKILLS - ENSURING LONG-TERM SUCCESS.

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 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 October 13, 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 June 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 January 1997.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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