Urban Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH URBAN PARENTS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY CHILD TO MEET OR EXCEED THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL IN BASIC ACADEMIC AND LIFE SKILLS BY UTILIZING RESEARCH-PROVEN METHODS IN A SAFE, STRUCTURED, AND RESPECTFUL COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 75
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $205,974, 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: 29 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 101% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 255 of 8 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 (1)
- $7.4 million spent. HONESTY, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, SELF-DISCIPLINE, COOPERATION AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS.URBAN ACADEMY PROVIDES A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR URBAN STUDENTS IN GRADES PREK-8. WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING CREATIVE AND RESPONSIBLE HUMAN BEINGS. CHILDREN HAVE AN INNATE ABILITY TO LEARN. WHEN NURTURED AND TAUGHT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT RESPECTS THEIR UNIQUE CULTURE, ABILITIES, RESILIENCY, AND EFFORT, THEY AWAKEN THE DESIRE TO LEARN. READY AND WILLING TO BE TAUGHT, CHILDREN GROW AND FLOURISH AS CREATIVE CITIZENS, ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.URBAN ACADEMY BELIEVES IN A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STUDENT'S HOME AND COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY RESIDE. EVERY STUDENT IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD HOLISTICALLY, BY UNDERSTANDING THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC ABILITIES, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL LIFE, WHICH IMPACTS THEIR ACADEMICS AND BEHAVIOR. OUR FAMILY SPECIALIST IS A RESOURCE TO THE PARENTS BY PROVIDING THEM RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME. TO CREATE A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS AND PLAN THAT IS COLLABORATIVE, FOCUSES ON STUDENT LEARNING, AND IS MEASURED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES OF DATA.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.