Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

American Career College Educational Foundation

EIN 46-1482768 · Irvine, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE NO-COST EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS AND SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT FOR IN-NEED LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE STRIVING TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION, ENHANCED JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND PERSONAL GROWTH. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS AN EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE FOUNDATION, AMERICAN CAREER COLLEGE, INC. ("ACC") AND TWO OTHER FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES OWNED BY THE SOLE SHAREHOLDER OF ACC.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
34
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$187,337, program director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% 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

    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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
  1. $2.4 million spent. THE HSE ACADEMY IS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS STUDENTS AT NO COST PREPARE FOR AND PASS THE CALIFORNIA HISET EXAM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A HSE CERTIFICATE FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA; SERVED 920 STUDENTS IN 2024.
  2. $85,000 spent. THE EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCIES THAT ARISE IN THE LIVES OF EMPLOYEES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 April 2014.

    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.