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College Possible

EIN 41-1968798 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLLEGE POSSIBLE IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION MAKING COLLEGE ADMISSION AND SUCCESS POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS THROUGH AN INTENSIVE CURRICULUM OF COACHING AND SUPPORT.

Income
$34.6 million
Spending
$31.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
632
Volunteers
102
Highest pay
$379,572, chief executive officer

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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • 4,000 high school students were served.Work delivered
  • 19,000 college students were served.Work delivered
  • Over 4,100 Catalyze students were served.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $19.1 million spent. COLLEGE POSSIBLE'S FLAGSHIP HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING STARTS AT THE BEGINNING OF STUDENTS' JUNIOR YEAR. AMERICORPS SERVICE MEMBERS, CALLED COACHES, SERVE FULL-TIME AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. COACHES SERVE AS STUDENT MENTORS, RESOURCES AND ADVOCATES, BUILDING A CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN WHICH STUDENTS EXCEL. EACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A TOTAL OF 320 HOURS OF DIRECT INSTRUCTION. IN THEIR SENIOR YEAR, STUDENTS WORK WITH COACHES TO APPLY TO "BEST-FIT" SCHOOLS THAT FIT THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL NEEDS. STUDENTS ALSO WORK WITH COACHES TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID THROUGH THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) AND BY COMPLETING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. ONCE A SENIOR SELECTS THE SCHOOL THEY WILL ATTEND FOR THE FALL, THEY RECEIVE CONTINUED COACHING SUPPORT TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE COMPLEX ENROLLMENT PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES ACCEPTING AND MANAGING FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES, REGISTERING FOR CLASSES, AND DEVELOPING A HOUSING AND/OR TRANSPORTATION PLAN. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, AMERICORPS COACHES HELP FOSTER OUR STUDENTS' SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO COLLEGE BY PROVIDING SUMMER BRIDGE SERVICES, WHICH IS INTENSIVE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLETE ALL NECESSARY TASKS FOR SUCCESSFUL ENROLLMENT IN AND MATRICULATION TO COLLEGE. EXTERNAL DATA SIGNALS THAT, WHILE MANY STUDENTS INTEND TO GO TO COLLEGE, SOMETHING HAPPENS TO PREVENT THEM FROM ENROLLING IN COLLEGE ON TIME AND, OFTEN, AT ALL. THIS PHENOMENON, CALLED "SUMMER MELT", ESPECIALLY IMPACTS STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE POSSIBLE CONTINUES TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR COLLEGE CAREER AS THEY WORK TOWARD GRADUATION AND WORKFORCE ENTRY. COLLEGE COACHES ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO ASSIST WITH THE CHALLENGES STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS FACE WHEN NAVIGATING HIGHER EDUCATION. THEY PROVIDE TARGETED, PROACTIVE SUPPORT TO FOSTER COLLEGE ENROLLMENT, PERSISTENCE AND GRADUATION BY ADDRESSING COMMON ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL BARRIERS TO STUDENTS' COLLEGE SUCCESS. COACHES CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STUDENTS THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION. NAVIGATE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING: IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF THE METROPOLITAN AREAS WHERE WE ARE BASED, COLLEGE POSSIBLE ALSO OPERATES A TECH-CONNECTED MODEL FOCUSED ON IMPROVING ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, IN GEOGRAPHICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS. COLLEGE POSSIBLE OPERATES THIS PROGRAMMING IN MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, TEXAS, AND OREGON. IN ORDER TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, COLLEGE POSSIBLE FOCUSES ON: * IDENTIFYING LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. COLLEGE POSSIBLE SERVES LOW-INCOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE COLLEGE POTENTIAL BUT LACK THE TOOLS TO APPLY. * PROVIDING ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS. IN HIGH SCHOOL, INTENSIVE ACT/SAT TEST PREPARATION ENSURES THAT STUDENTS' SCORES REFLECT THEIR TRUE APTITUDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN ORDER TO IMPROVE COLLEGE ADMISSION OPPORTUNITIES WHILE IMPROVING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC PREPARATION. ONCE IN COLLEGE, WE SUPPORT STUDENTS IN IDENTIFYING MAJORS, COURSES AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS THAT WILL LEAD TO COLLEGE SUCCESS. * INCREASING STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND IMPROVING COLLEGE ADMISSION RATES. COLLEGE POSSIBLE PROVIDES INTENSIVE ADMISSIONS CONSULTING TO HELP STUDENTS COMPETE WITH THEIR MORE AFFLUENT PEERS, CHOOSE COLLEGES THAT ARE THE BEST FIT FOR THEM AND ENROLL IN THE COLLEGE OF THEIR CHOICE. * ENSURING FINANCIAL AID FOR STUDENTS. COLLEGE POSSIBLE HELPS STUDENTS IDENTIFY SCHOLARSHIPS, COMPLETE THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL AID PROCESS AND SECURE WORK-STUDY POSITIONS ON CAMPUS. STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION TO HELP THEM MANAGE AND MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR FINANCIAL RESOURCES. * BUILDING AND SUSTAINING PEER NETWORKS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SUPPORT. RESEARCH SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF PEER SUPPORT IN BOTH PREPARING FOR AND SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGE. COLLEGE POSSIBLE HELPS STUDENTS BUILD AND EXPAND SOCIAL NETWORKS TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THEIR PURSUIT OF A COLLEGE DEGREE. * LEVERAGING EXISTING NETWORKS OF SUPPORT THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COLLEGE POSSIBLE WORKS CLOSELY WITH OTHER MENTORING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS CREATING A PIPELINE OF SERVICES AND LIMITING DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. PROGRAM RESULTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 ARE AS FOLLOWS: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERVED: 4,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS SERVED: 19,000
  2. $1.4 million spent. CATALYZE: CATALYZE INCREASES THE CAPACITY OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO ADOPT AND INTEGRATE COLLEGE POSSIBLE'S PROVEN COLLEGE COACHING MODEL INTO THEIR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE TO BETTER SUPPORT EVERY STUDENT FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT ON CAMPUS, FROM MATRICULATION THROUGH GRADUATION. A CATALYZE PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO TAILOR THE COLLEGE POSSIBLE MODEL TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. BY PARTNERING WITH COLLEGE POSSIBLE, CAMPUSES CAN ENHANCE THEIR SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS AND IMPROVE RETENTION RATES. IN 2016 WE STARTED PILOT PROGRAMS AT THREE UNIVERSITIES IN MINNESOTA. IN OUR 2024-2025 PROGRAM YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH A TOTAL OF NINE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS FIVE STATES. EACH OF THESE INSTITUTIONS HOSTS ON-CAMPUS COACHES WHO SUPPORT COLLEGE STUDENTS, FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS, WITH COLLEGE POSSIBLE'S TRIED-AND-TRUE CURRICULUM AND COACHING. CATALYZE STUDENTS SERVED: OVER 4,100
  3. $1.1 million spent. COPILOT: COPILOT IS AN INDUSTRY-LEADING STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM BUILT ON SALESFORCE THAT PROVIDES STUDENT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WITH 360-DEGREE INSIGHT INTO THE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR STUDENTS.
  4. $4.0 million spent. NATIONAL OFFICE SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE OPERATION.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.