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High Jump

EIN 36-4470186 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HIGH JUMP IS A TUITION FREE, TWO-YEAR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR TALENTED AND MOTIVATED MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH LIMITED FAMILY INCOME. THE STUDENTS ATTEND CLASSES FOR A FIVE WEEK SESSION DURING THE SUMMERS BEFORE 7TH AND 8TH GRADE; AS WELL AS ATTEND CLASSES TWO SATURDAYS A MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEARS. THE PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO IMPROVE THE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC CAPABILITIES, GROW THEIR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES AND INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS. HIGH JUMP ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMMING FOR ALUMNI (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS). THIS PROGRAMMING IS FOCUSED ON HELPING STUDENTS NAVIGATE HIGH SCHOOL, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, GAIN ACCEPTANCE AND ENROLL IN A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
157
Volunteers
224
Highest pay
$276,531, 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    44 of 44 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. $1.8 million spent. HAVING SERVED 35 COHORTS OF STUDENTS SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1989, HIGH JUMP HAS ENROLLED OVER 3,500 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM. CURRENTLY, OUR COHORTS ARE COMPOSED OF 224 RISING 7TH GRADERS. WITHIN EACH COHORT, 95% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FROM CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NEARLY 65% WILL BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND ANY POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLING, 44% IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC AND 40% IDENTIFY AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN. THE AVERAGE STUDENT COMES FROM A FAMILY OF FOUR WITH A HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF $40,000 ANNUALLY.THE PROGRAM REQUIRES STUDENTS TO SPEND APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS PER YEAR WITH OUR TEACHERS ENGAGED IN ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COURSEWORK, AS WELL AS COUNSELING FOR HIGH SCHOOL ACCESS AND READINESS. OVER THE INITIAL TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, WE RETAIN APPROXIMATELY 88% OF OUR STUDENTS.WHEN EXAMINING THEIR STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HIGH JUMP MAKE TWO YEARS OF MATH AND READING GROWTH FOR EVERY ONE YEAR THEY ATTEND THE PROGRAM. OUR STUDENTS MAINTAIN HIGH GPAS AND ATTENDANCE RATES. 85% OF OUR STUDENTS GO ON TO ATTEND RIGOROUS COLLEGE PREP HIGH SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 50% OF OUR STUDENTS ATTEND SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 30% OF OUR STUDENTS ATTEND SELECTIVE PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL, 100% OF OUR ALUMNI REPORT THAT HIGH JUMP PREPARED THEM WELL FOR HIGH SCHOOL. ALL OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND 98% OF THEM ENROLL IN COLLEGE IMMEDIATELY UPON HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION.79% OF OUR TOTAL ALUMNI, AND 87% OF OUR MOST RECENT COHORT HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, COMPARED TO 33% OF AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 25.

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 2001.

    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.