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Center for Advanced Learning

EIN 43-2010038 · Gresham, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak44 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NURTURING A CULTURE OF CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, AND ACTION. CULTIVATING A COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
-18.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
23
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$149,543, 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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (6)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAM STUDENTS GAIN THE SKILLS, TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE, ADADEMIC FOUNDATION, AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES THEY NEED TO PREPARE FOR HIGH-DEMAND, HIGH-WAGE CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE. STUDENTS STRENGTHEN THEIR SKILLS FOR CAREERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY'S HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY. SOME OF THE CAREERS WE EXPLORE INVOLVE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PEOPLE, WHILE OTHERS INVOLVE RESEARCH. INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS ARE VARIED AND MAY BE IN HOSPITALS, MEDICAL OR DENTAL OFFICES. STUDENTS RECEIVE AN EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE WORLD OF HEALTH SCIENCES USING STATE-OF-THE-ART, INDUSTRY-GRADE EQUIPMENT. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS EARN UP TO 25 COLLEGE CREDITS AND WILL HAVE SEVERAL INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
  2. $279,888 spent. THE TECH LAB PROGRAM IS NOT AN AVERAGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. IN TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE TWO YEAR PROGRAM MODEL, COURSES BUILD OFF OF EACH OTHER SO THAT THE STUDENT EXPERIENCES LONG-TERM PROJECTS AND LEARNS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF TECHNICAL SYSTEMS. THE COURSES ARE OFFERED IN SUCH A WAY THAT STUDENTS CAN BORROW OR BUILD OFF OF KNOWLEDGE LEARNED PREVIOUSLY AND CONTINUE TO STRETCH THEIR UNDERSTANDING IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES. STUDENTS WILL LEARN CYBER SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS, PROGRAMMING, AND WEB PROGRAMMING. STUDENTS WILL USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO SECURE INFRASTRUCTURES AND INFORMATION THROUGH ETHICAL HACKING. STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE IN DIFFERENT CYBERSECURITY COMPETITIONS. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS EARN MORE THAN 11 COLLEGE CREDITS.
  3. $209,916 spent. THE MAIN FOCUS IN CHANGE LAB IS LEADERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WE FEEL REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES AND ENGAGING ACTIVITES ARE THE BEST METHODS TO LEARN THESE SKILLS. WE USE REAL WORLD PROBLEMS TO FOSTER AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET, AND MANY OF OUR STUDENTS START AND OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESS DURING THIS PROGRAM, WHICH WE FULLY SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING WITH THEM. AFTER STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE RUNNING THEIR OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ADDRESS PROBLEMS THE STUDENTS SELECT IN THE COMMUNITY. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS MAY EARN UP TO 23 COLLEGE CREDITS AND WILL COMPLETE AT LEAST 10+ HOURS AT PARTNER WORKS SITES.
  4. $233,240 spent. THE DIGITAL MEDIA AND DESIGN (DMD) PROGRAM IS POISED TO GET STUDENTS READY FOR A VARIETY OF CAREERS IN THE CREATIVE SERVICES INDUSTRIES. IN THIS HANDS-ON PROGRAM, STUDENTS LEARN TECHNIQUES FOR IMAGE DEVELOPMENT; THEY CAPTURE, CREATE, AND EDIT VIDEO AND PHOTO FILES FOR MEDIA PRODUCTIONS AND PROJECTS. DEVELOPING CONCEPTS THROUGH SCRIPTS AND STORYBOARDS, DMD STUDENTS PRACTICE DESIGN, ANIMATION, DIGITAL STORYTELLING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND VIDEOGRAPHY FOR FILM, WEB, AND OTHER TYPES OF MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTIONS. STUDENTS LEARN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF GRAPHIC DESIGN, ADVERTISING, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO PRODUCTION, AND MARKETING. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS EARN MORE THAN 20 COLLEGE CREDITS AND WILL COMPLETE AT LEAST 25+ HOURS EITHER AT PARTNER WORK SITES AND/OR COMPLETING PARTNER PROJECTS.
  5. $163,268 spent. STUDENTS IN THE FASHION, ART, AND BRANDING LAB (FAB LAB) WILL CREATE CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES AND WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY. STUDENTS WILL FOCUS ON MARKET AND CONSUMER-DRIVEN DESIGN AND WILL BE PROFESSIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY READY FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR ENTRY INTO A COLLEGE PROGRAM AT MT. HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST COLLEGE OF ART, OR OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY. STUDENTS WILL BE LITERATE IN THE BUSINESS OF APPAREL, DESIGN, PRODUCTION, BRANDING AND MARKETING. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS EARN MORE THAN 16 COLLEGE CREDITS AND WILL COMPLETE AT LEAST 25+ HOURS EITHER AT PARTNER WORKSITES AND/OR COMPLETING PARTNER PROJECTS.
  6. $396,507 spent. THE MANUFACTURING AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM AREA IS FOCUSED ON ENGINEERING PROCESSES AND PROTOTYING (3D PRINT & DESIGN) WHILE WORKING WITH METALS. LIKE A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO THINK, DESIGN AND PRODUCE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. STUDENTS USE SOLIDWORKS (CAD) AND MOVE FROM APPLYING PROPER USE OF HAND TOOLS TO WELDING, MILLING, MACHINING, METALS FOUNDRY, AND RAPID PROTOTYPING. STUDENTS COMPLETE WORKSITE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN BUSINESSES OVER THE COURSE OF THE SENIOR YEAR. OVER THE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, STUDENTS EARN MORE THAN 20 COLLEGE CREDITS AND WILL COMPLETE AT LEAST 6+ HOURS AT PARTNER WORKS SITES.

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 October 13, 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? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 2017.

    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 October 21, 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.