Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Innovate Public Schools

EIN 46-2155826 · Menlo Park, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILD THE PARENT AND COMMUNITY DEMAND FOR WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH OF THESE SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, STUDENTS OF COLORS, AND STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
54%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
35
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$200,905, ceo

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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    54% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 (5)
  1. $677,841 spent. RESEARCH & POLICY - THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES ACTIONABLE RESEARCH AND DATA ON SCHOOL QUALITY, DESIGNED TO SHOW THE URGENCY OF IMPROVING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. THROUGH PUBLIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND ONLINE RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO GET THIS RESEARCH AND DATA INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND LOCAL EDUCATION ADVOCATES.
  2. $1.5 million spent. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING - PPARENTS HAVE A UNIQUE AND CRITICAL ROLE IN IMPROVING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. INNOVATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPOWERS PARENTS ACROSS THE NATION TO BUILD ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT CAN SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATE FOR BETTER SCHOOLS AND HOLD THE SYSTEM ACCOUNTABLE TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN.
  3. $256,740 spent. CONSULTING & TRAINING - THE ORGANIZATION TRAINS AND DEVELOPS PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND PARENT VOLUNTEER LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE NATIONAL PARENT LEADER INSTITUTE.
  4. $96,857 spent. STATEWIDE - INNOVATE ORGANIZES THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. IN 2025, 10 PARENT LEADERS SERVED ON INNOVATE'S CA STATEWIDE PARENT LEADER BOARD. THE CA STATEWIDE PARENT LEADER BOARD IS A BODY OF VOLUNTEER PARENT LEADERS REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF BLACK AND LATINO PARENTS, PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES, AND PARENTS OF ENGLISH LEARNERS. PARENT LEADERS LIVE AND WORK IN LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, REDWOOD CITY, AND EAST PALO ALTO.
  5. STATEWIDE - INNOVATE ORGANIZES THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA. IN 2025, 10 PARENT LEADERS SERVED ON INNOVATE'S CA STATEWIDE PARENT LEADER BOARD. THE CA STATEWIDE PARENT LEADER BOARD IS A BODY OF VOLUNTEER PARENT LEADERS REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF BLACK AND LATINO PARENTS, PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES, AND PARENTS OF ENGLISH LEARNERS. PARENT LEADERS LIVE AND WORK IN LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, REDWOOD CITY, AND EAST PALO ALTO.

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 October 13, 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 February 2015.

    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 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.