Project Success-Students Undertaking Creative Control
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROJECT SUCCESS MOTIVATES AND INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO DREAM ABOUT THE FUTURE, HELPS THEM TAKE STEPS TO GET THERE AND GIVES THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR EXPANDED MISSION STATEMENT.
- Income
- $8.0 million
- Spending
- $6.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 6.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 51
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $209,128, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 32% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
- $2.5 million spent. IN-CLASS WORKSHOPS: IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES GUIDE CUMULATIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS, GAINING TOOLS, PURPOSE, AND CONFIDENCE. EACH MONTH, A PS FACILITATOR GUIDES EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING THAT COMPLEMENTS THE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC WORK. ANNUALLY, 17,000 STUDENTS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN IN-CLASS WORKSHOPS.
- $1.1 million spent. ARTS: THEATER EXPERIENCES CREATE A SPRINGBOARD FOR DISCUSSION, INVITING RISK-TAKING AND POSSIBILITY. OBSERVING LIVE THEATER PERFORMANCES AND PARTICIPATING IN STAGED PRODUCTIONS GIVES STUDENTS A WINDOW INTO THE PERFORMING ARTS, FROM FRONT OF STAGE TO BEHIND THE SCENES. ANNUALLY, 9,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ATTEND LIVE THEATER AND OTHER ARTS EXPERIENCES.
- $522,434 spent. EXPEDITIONS: ADVENTURE TRIPS TO COLLEGES, WORKPLACES, CITIES, AND NATURE SETTINGS OPEN NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR ONE'S POTENTIAL IN THE WORLD. SUPERVISED TRIPS (LOCALLY TO GLOBALLY) ARE PURPOSEFULLY PLANNED BASED ON STUDENTS' INTERESTS, AVAILABILITY AND NEED. MORE THAN 3,000 STUDENTS EXPERIENCE OUTDOOR FIELD TRIPS, BWCA AND APOSTLE ISLAND TRIPS, COLLEGE AND CAREER TOURS, AND GLOBAL EXPERIENCES.
- $880,336 spent. INSTITUTE: CERTIFICATES AND OTHER PROGRAMS BUILD CRITICAL LIFE AND CAREER SKILLS THAT ENRICH ONE'S INDEPENDENCE. PARTICIPATING IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL COURSES AND EVENTS LED BY DIVERSE AND EXPERIENCED CONTENT EXPERTS SATISFIES STUDENTS' INTERESTS AND PROVIDES RELEVANT SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE. ANNUALLY, MORE THAN 1,0000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN INSTITUTE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING CERTIFICATES, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND THE BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER.
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
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? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 June 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 November 1996.
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 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.