Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hirsch Academy a Challenge Foundation Academy Inc

EIN 45-3066114 · Scottsdale, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CFA PARTNERS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT AND EQUITABLE CLASSICAL EDUCATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOUGHTFUL, HIGHLY LITERATE CITIZENS. OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THE PURSUIT OF PERSONAL EXCELLENCE, FOR COLLEGE, AND FOR A LIFETIME AS POSITIVE CONTRIBUTORS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 82%
Employees
36
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$107,696, school direc

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

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. $1.9 million spent. ALL STUDENTS AT HIRSCH ACADEMY: CFA NEED AND DESERVE AN EXCELLENT AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION TO BECOME HIGHLY LITERATE AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS. WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS NEEDS ARE MET. WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS (CCSS), ARIZONA ACADEMIC STANDARDS, CORE KNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM, CHALLENGE FOUNDATION PHILOSOPHY, AND BEST INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE. CORE KNOWLEDGE IS A CLASSICAL CURRICULUM WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON LITERACY ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECTS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA), MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, THE VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC. TEACHER SELECTION IS FOCUSED ON SELECTING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS. WE PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPPORT THROUGH A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MODEL. REGULAR DATA ANALYSIS, COACHING FROM SCHOOL LEADERS AND THROUGH CORE KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION SCHOOL VISITS, TEAM MENTORING THROUGH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL ROUNDS, AND APPLIED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ENSURE EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION. COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF IS ESSENTIAL FOR HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND IS SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM AT HIRSCH ACADEMY: CFA, MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CONTENT, MEANINGFUL UNDERSTANDING, AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN SOCIETY. ALL STUDENTS AT HIRSCH ACADEMY: CFA NEED AND DESERVE AN EXCELLENT AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION TO BECOME HIGHLY LITERATE AND CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS. WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS NEEDS ARE MET. WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS (CCSS), ARIZONA ACADEMIC STANDARDS, CORE KNOWLEDGE CURRICULUM, CHALLENGE FOUNDATION PHILOSOPHY, AND BEST INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT FROM AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE. CORE KNOWLEDGE IS A CLASSICAL CURRICULUM WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON LITERACY ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECTS: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA), MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, THE VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC. TEACHER SELECTION IS FOCUSED ON SELECTING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS. WE PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPPORT THROUGH A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MODEL. REGULAR DATA ANALYSIS, COACHING FROM SCHOOL LEADERS AND THROUGH CORE KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION SCHOOL VISITS, TEAM MENTORING THROUGH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL ROUNDS, AND APPLIED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ENSURE EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION. COLLABORATION BETWEEN PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF IS ESSENTIAL FOR HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND IS SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM AT HIRSCH ACADEMY: CFA, MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CONTENT, MEANINGFUL UNDERSTANDING, AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN SOCIETY.

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 August 2013.

    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.