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Cleveland Municipal School District Transformation Alliance

EIN 46-2115716 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CLEVELAND TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE (CTA) IS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNER WORKING TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IS ENGAGED IN A HIGH-QUALITY, EQUITABLE EDUCATION. THE CTA GIVES FAMILIES AND STUDENTS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO COMMIT TO THEIR BEST-FIT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

Income
$239,927
Spending
$449,178
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
6
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$138,367, 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 87% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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

    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.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $118,922 spent. COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS ABOUT QUALITY SCHOOL CHOICES: TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE EMPOWERS FAMILIES TO MAKE INFORMED SCHOOL CHOICES WITH MARKETING AND OUTREACH ABOUT SCHOOL QUALITY. THE RESOURCES WE OFFER INCLUDE OUR ANNUAL SCHOOL QUALITY GUIDE AND INTERACTIVE WEBSITE, WHICH PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CLEVELAND. TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE ALSO WORKS TO HELP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS BECOME STRONGER ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE EXTENDS THEIR REACH IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DEEP PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LIBRARIES, CDCS, HOUSING,AND HEALTH PROVIDERS, AT THE CITYWIDE AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
  2. $84,601 spent. ENSURE FIDELITY TO THE CITYWIDE EDUCATION PLAN (THE CLEVELAND PLAN): IN THE TRANSFORMATIONALLIANCE'S ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF THE CLEVELAND PLAN, THE TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE MONITORS THE PROGRESS OF THE PLAN. TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCEFACILITATES COLLABORATION AMONG ALLIANCE MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
  3. $84,601 spent. ASSESS THE QUALITY OF ALL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CLEVELAND: THE TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE ASSESSES EACH DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE CITY RELYING STATE RATINGS, WHICH ARE USED TO CALCULATE A CITYWIDE RANKING OF SCHOOLS BY TEST RESULTS AND ACADEMIC GROWTH, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY REVIEWS AND METRICS LIKE GRADUATION RATE AND COLLEGE-GOING RATE.
  4. $39,515 spent. MONITOR CHARTER SECTOR QUALITY AND GROWTH TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE WORKS TO ENSURE NEW AND EXISTING CHARTER SCHOOLS IN CLEVELAND REFLECT QUALITY EDUCATION STANDARDS. TRANSFORMATION ALLIANCE CONDUCTS REVIEWS OF CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ON WHETHER SPONSORS SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO OPEN NEW SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND AND WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD DIRECTLY AUTHORIZE CERTAIN CHARTER SCHOOLS.

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 August 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.