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Challenge Success

EIN 45-3767621 · Stanford, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 54%
Employees
29
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$202,996, executive dir.

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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 45% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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 25

    19 of 19 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

    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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. School Program: TEAMING WITH SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CHALLENGE SUCCESS PROVIDES PRACTICAL, SITE-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & WELL BEING WHILE REDUCING THE UNDUE STRESS AND PRESSURE THAT SO MANY STUDENTS FACE TODAY. SPECIFICALLY, CHALLENGE SUCCESS WORKS WITH SCHOOLS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ACTION PLANNING GUIDES TO IMPROVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH LEARNING AND WELL-BEING. THE ORGANIZATION TRAINS COACHES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS. COACHES MEET WITH SCHOOL TEAMS AT THE FALL AND SPRING CONFERENCES, TYPICALLY HELD AT STANFORD, AND THEN CONTINUE TO MEET AT THE SCHOOL
  2. Parent Education and Professional development: CHALLENGE SUCCESS ALSO PROVIDES LIVE AND ON-LINE FORMAT PARENT EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. PRESENTATIONS ARE HIGHLY INTERACTIVE AND RESEARCH-BASED.
  3. Research projects and school surveys: CHALLENGE SUCCESS DESIGNS AND IMPLEMENTS SCHOOL SURVEYS THAT DIAGNOSE THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHAT IS WORKING WELL OR NOT WELL WITH REGARD TO STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE US AND Abroad.

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 November 6, 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? 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2012.

    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 November 4, 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.