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Summit Education Initiative

EIN 34-1843220 · Akron, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR VISION IS TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE INDIVIDUAL AND REGIONAL PROSPERITY THROUGH INCREASED EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
7.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 84%
Employees
10
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$185,400, 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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 25

    21 of 21 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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. $1.3 million spent. ACADEMIC READINESS: THE FIRST PRIORITY IS ENSURING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE READY TO TAKE THE ACT, FOR A SECOND TIME, IN THE FALL OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR. AN INTENSIVE TWO-WEEK SUMMER ACADEMY PROVIDES THEM WITH MATH AND READING SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND USEFUL TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES. A FOLLOW-UP EVENT, MATHPALOOZA, REVIEWS KEY MATH SKILLS TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE MASTERED THE CONTENT.ASPIRATION BUILDING: THE GAP IS MORE THAN ACADEMIC; IT IS ALSO SOCIAL AND CULTURAL. MENTORS HELP REMOVE BARRIERS AND SHEPHERD THESE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THEIR JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH ENROLLMENT IN A POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION.ESTIMATES OF STUDENTS IMPACTED:PRE-SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN READINESS (ALL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE TRANSITION SKILLS SUMMARY IN PRESCHOOL, COMBINED WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN): 6,538THIRD GRADE READING (STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES 1 THROUGH 3): 14,0968TH GRADE MATH (STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES 5 THROUGH 8, OUR TARGET GRADE LEVELS TO PREPARE FOR 8TH GRADE MATH): 19,352NINTH GRADE SUCCESS + COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS (STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES 9-12, THE POPULATION SERVED THROUGH THE READY HIGH SCHOOL NETWORK): 17,679COLLEGE MATRICULATION AND PERSISTENCE (COUNT OF STUDENTS FROM THE CLASSES OF 2023 AND 2024 WHOM WE FOLLOWED THROUGH THE NATIONAL STUDENT CLEARINGHOUSE IN ORDER TO MEASURE MATRICULATION AND PERSISTENCE): 8,892

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 November 6, 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 December 1996.

    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 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.