Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Athletes Committed to Educating Students

EIN 41-1789659 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ACES IS AN INNOVATIVE OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAM THAT BRINGS MATH AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO LIFE FOR MINNESOTA STUDENTS. OUR HANDS-ON CURRICULUM, INDIVIDUAL MENTORSHIP, AND ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP CRUCIAL ACADEMIC AND LIFE SKILLS ALL THROUGH THE EXCITING LENS OF SPORT THEMES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINNESOTAS PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGIATE SPORTS TEAMS, ACES IS TACKLING THE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITY GAP AND PREPARING YOUNG LEARNERS TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, CAREER, AND COMMUNITY. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ENGAGING, INCLUSIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
67
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$133,172, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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

    15 of 15 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 August 31, 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. $1.0 million spent. ACES IMPLEMENTS YEAR-ROUND, RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED, STRUCTURED, PROJECT- BASED PROGRAMMING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOCUSED ON THREE KEY AREAS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: ACADEMICS, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY BELONGING. PROGRAMS INCLUDE CAREER EXPOSURE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO CONNECT ACADEMIC LEARNING TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS AND PATHWAYS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTEND REGULARLY DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED FOUNDATIONAL ACADEMIC SKILLS AND INCREASED CONFIDENCE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN A MATH- FOCUSED STEM LENS, AS WELL AS INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ENHANCED LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER OUTCOMES, AND GREATER CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, ACES OPERATES A YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGE IN DECISION-MAKING, AND CONTRIBUTE TO PROGRAM DESIGN AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN THEIR VOICE, AND GAIN EXPERIENCE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PEER LEADERSHIP. ACES IMPLEMENTS YEAR-ROUND, RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED, STRUCTURED, PROJECT- BASED PROGRAMMING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOCUSED ON THREE KEY AREAS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: ACADEMICS, LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY BELONGING. PROGRAMS INCLUDE CAREER EXPOSURE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO CONNECT ACADEMIC LEARNING TO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS AND PATHWAYS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO ATTEND REGULARLY DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED FOUNDATIONAL ACADEMIC SKILLS AND INCREASED CONFIDENCE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN A MATH- FOCUSED STEM LENS, AS WELL AS INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ENHANCED LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER OUTCOMES, AND GREATER CONNECTION TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, ACES OPERATES A YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGE IN DECISION-MAKING, AND CONTRIBUTE TO PROGRAM DESIGN AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, STRENGTHEN THEIR VOICE, AND GAIN EXPERIENCE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PEER LEADERSHIP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 1995.

    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.