Original Six Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORIGINAL SIX FOUNDATION BELIEVES A STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED BY THE ZIP CODE IN WHICH HE OR SHE LIVES. OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVES IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 24.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $140,000, 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 155% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 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 (2)
- $911,383 spent. THE ORIGINAL SIX (O6) FOUNDATION'S FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, O6 AFTERSCHOOL, PROVIDES STUDENTS IN GRADES TWO THROUGH EIGHT WITH A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO LEARN WHILE CLOSING ACADEMIC GAPS. WHAT BEGAN AS A SMALL PILOT PROGRAM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST DECADE. CURRENTLY IN ITS 10TH YEAR, O6 AFTERSCHOOL IS A MODEL OF IMPACT AND CONSISTENCY. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, O6 AFTERSCHOOL: -SERVED NEARLY 1,000 STUDENTS IN 12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN EIGHT COUNTIES (ALLENDALE, BAMBERG, CLARENDON, COLLETON, FLORENCE, GREENVILLE, MARION, AND UNION). -DELIVERED 16,998 HOUR OF INDIVIDUALIZED HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY MORE THAN 120 CERTIFIED TEACHERS. -97% OF PARENTS REPORTED THE PROGRAM POSITIVELY IMPACTED THEIR CHILD, AND 92% OF STUDENTS SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD SCHOOLWORK BETTER AFTER ATTENDING. IN THE FALL OF 2025, O6 AFTERSCHOOL EXPANDED TO A 13TH SCHOOL, SIMS MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EXTENDED PROGRAMMING FOR EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS AT JONESVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BOTH IN UNION COUNTY.STUDENTS RECEIVE NOT ONLY ACADEMIC SUPPORT BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE CAREER PATHWAYS. IN RECENT YEARS, O6 HAS: -SUPPLIED VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS FOR CAREER EXPLORATION IN RURAL SCHOOLS. -PARTNERED WITH COMPANIES LIKE HONDA, BOEING, BCA BICYCLE, AND HAYNESWORTH, SINKLER, BOYD TO OFFER ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CAREER EXPLORATION EXCURSIONS. WE ALSO HAVE ONSITE CAREER EXPERTS WHO SPEAK TO STUDENTS AT SCHOOL. -WE ARE MAKING IT A PRIORITY TO GET THE STUDENTS WE SERVE ON UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL CAMPUSES. INTERACTIVE STEAM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH) LEARNING, TEAM ACTIVITIES, AND SOCIAL ENRICHMENT REMAIN A PROMINENT PIECE OF THE PROGRAM, HELPING STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, DEVELOP STRONG STUDY HABITS, AND CULTIVATE A LASTING LOVE OF LEARNING. ALL O6 PROGRAMS OPERATE. AT NO COST FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
- $101,265 spent. SECOND MAJOR PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT: THE ORIGINAL SIX FOUNDATION BELIEVES THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE A CHILD IS THE ABILITY TO READ. READING PROFICIENCY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PREDICTORS OF LONG-TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS, YET MANY CHILDREN IN UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES LACK ACCESS TO AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS. THAT'S WHY O6 CREATED MY FIRST LIBRARY, A PROGRAM THAT PLACES BOOKS DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS.THROUGH MY FIRST LIBRARY, EACH STUDENT CHOOSES TEN HIGH-QUALITY SUMMER READING BOOKS AT A YEAR-END BOOK FAIR, BUILDING THEIR OWN AT-HOME LIBRARY. THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT: -STARTS EARLY: UNLIKE MOST READING PROGRAMS THAT BEGIN IN FIRST GRADE, MY FIRST LIBRARY STARTS IN KINDERGARTEN TO PREVENT "SUMMER SLIDE," WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR UP TO 85% OF THE READING GAP BETWEEN LOWER-INCOME AND HIGHER INCOME PEERS. -PRIORITIZES CHOICE: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO READ BOOKS THEY CHOOSE THEMSELVES 92% OF KIDS AGREE. -TARGETS THE GREATEST NEED: AS A STATEWIDE FOUNDATION, O6 IDENTIFIES AND INVESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS. SINCE ITS LAUNCH, MY FIRST LIBRARY HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 109,000 BOOKS TO MORE THAN 10,000 KINDERGARTENERS IN 44 PUBLIC SCHOOLS STATEWIDE. IN 2025, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED INTO CHESTER, DILLON, AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES, BROADENING ITS REACH AND IMPACT.
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 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 June 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 October 2012.
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.