Brightways Learning
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 100 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AS A K-12 EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT, WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY STUDENT - NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE - DESERVES A GREAT EDUCATION AND A WEB OF SUPPORT. WE PROVIDE WEB-BASED TOOLS, TRAINING AND PERSONALIZED ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AND REMOTE SETTINGS TO FURTHER OUR MISSION.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 7.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $119,260, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 100 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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)
- $1.3 million spent. DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING CONTINUED THE ORGANIZATION'S MOMENTUM AND FOCUS OF ITS GOAL TO FILL GAPS IN EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF K-12 STUDENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS. BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING SPECIALIZES IN RURAL AND REMOTE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS AND COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE EVERY CHILD, NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE, DESERVES A GREAT EDUCATION AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING CONTINUED TO VIGOROUSLY ENGAGE OUR TEAM AFTER COVID-19 CREATED THE NEED FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND ISOLATION, TO RE-VAMP OUR SERVICES DELIVERY TO BEST MEET THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND RESILIENCY NEEDS OF STUDENTS, AND THE FAMILIES AND THE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE THEM. BRIGHTWAYS DEVELOPED ADDITIONAL ROBUST AND ENGAGING VIRTUAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND CONNECTION TO AND WITH OUR CLIENT STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE ALSO SAW A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR DISTANCE-BASED SCHOOLING SUPPORT THROUGH OUR BRIGHTWAYS GLOBAL ACADEMY SERVICES. WE WERE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR CHARITABLE OFFERINGS TO PROVIDE MANY RESOURCES AT NO COST TO FAMILIES, STUDENTS, AND SCHOOLS. MANY OF THESE RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE AT: HTTPS://WWW.BRIGHTWAYSLEARNING.ORG/COVID19RESOURCES.THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO RECEIVE EXCELLENT REVIEWS FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER CLIENTS FOR ITS COMPETENCY, PERSONALIZED CARING AND ATTENTION, AND COLLABORATIVE ABILITIES. AS ONE SUPERINTENDENT AT A RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RECENTLY SAID, "THE STAFF MEMBERS AT BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS. WHEN WE HAVE AN IDEA THAT WE WANT TO DEVELOP OR WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN OUR SYSTEM THAT BETTER SUITS OUR NEEDS, THEY SPEND THE TIME WITH US TO MAKE SURE THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WANT AND THEN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN."A PRIMARY BRIGHTWAYS MISSION IS TO ASSIST STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS BY INCREASING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. STRONG ADULT RELATIONSHIPS ARE PROVEN TOOLS TO DECREASE A STUDENT'S LIFE-LONG RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDHOOD POVERTY AND TRAUMA. THESE TOOLS ARE PARTICULARLY CRITICAL FOR STUDENTS FACING OUR GREATEST CURRENT CHALLENGE, COVID-19. THROUGH OUR UNIQUE, PROVEN WEB OF SUPPORT FRAMEWORK AND SUPPORTING SERVICES, WE HELP IMPROVE IMMEDIATE AND LIFELONG RESILIENCE, WELLBEING, AND ACADEMIC POTENTIAL THROUGH BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND GROWING PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS.BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING CONTINUES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WHO ARE SCHOOLING THEIR CHILDREN VIA DISTANCE LEARNING AND HOMESCHOOLING THROUGH THE COGNIA-ACCREDITED BRIGHTWAYS GLOBAL ACADEMY. ENROLLMENT IN THIS ACADEMY INCREASED IN THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, WITH MOST STUDENTS LIVING OVERSEAS AND BEING SCHOOLED AT HOME BY THEIR PARENTS, WHO ARE STATIONED ABROAD THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. BRIGHTWAYS BEGAN SERVING A GROUP OF STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO ENROLLED FROM GREECE TO RECEIVE DISTANCE EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR THEIR SCHOOLED-AT-HOME STUDENTS.BRIGHTWAYS LEARNING SUPPORTS EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ONGOING COLLABORATIVE OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION BY THEIR SUPERVISORS THROUGH OUR CLASSBRIGHT EVALUATE WEB-BASED APPLICATION. WE INCREASED SCHOOL USERS IN 2023-24 TO INCLUDE THREE NEW CLIENTS. CURRENT CLASSBRIGHT EVALUATE COLLABORATIVE EDUCATOR DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION SYSTEM USERS INCUDE:ALASKA GATEWAY SCHOOL DISTRICTALEUTIANS EAST BOROUGH SDBRIGHTWAYS LEARNINGBRISTOL BAY BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICTIDITAROD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTKETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH SDLOWER KUSKOKWIM SCHOOL DISTRICTSOUTHEAST ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICTUM EDUCATION DEPT.WRANGELL PUBLIC SCHOOLSIN ADDITION TO PROVIDING OUR BRIGHTWAYS STUDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO OUR BRIGHTWAYS GLOBAL ACADEMY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ALAKSA ALSO USE THE SYSTEM TO MANAGE STUDENT INFORMATION AND PERSONALIZED LEARNING DATA. WE ADDED ONE NEW CLIENT IN 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR. THE BRIGHTWAYS STUDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USERS INCLUDE:BRIGHTWAYS SMS CUSTOMERS ([NAME], [CURRENT YEAR], [CURRENT ENROLLMENTS COUNT])AK-TRAILSALASKA HOMESCHOOLBRIGHTWAYS GLOBAL ACADEMYBRISTOL BAY BOROUGHFAIRBANKS BEST HOMESCHOOLFASTTRACK, 2023-24IDITAROD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT / IDITAROD DISTANCE LEARNING CENTER, 2023-24RAVEN HOMESCHOOL, 2023-24UPSTREAM LEARNING, COPPER RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2023-24YAKUTAT SCHOOL DISTRICT, 2023-24OUT ONGOING GOAL IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF, UNDERSTANDING OF, AND SUPPORT FOR ROBUST WEBS OF SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND THE EDUCATORS THAT SERVE THEM. WE CARRY ON WITH JOY WITH THIS MISSION IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR DAILY EFFORTS TO ENGAGE AND SUPPORT ALL YOUTH.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 September 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 June 2005.
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 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.