New Schools for Alabama
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF EXCELLENT PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.
- Income
- $15.3 million
- Spending
- $14.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 48%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $233,710, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 66% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 September 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 (1)
- $13.5 million spent. ADVOCACY : WE ADVOCATE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF POLICY THAT HELPS TO IMPROVE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA. MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE WORK WITH POLICY MAKERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SERVES THE BETTERMENT OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMUNITY WHILE BEARING IN MIND THE BROADER NEEDS OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ALABAMA. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: WE ENSURE THAT PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT SCHOOL QUALITY AND THE BENEFITS THAT OTHER OPTIONS MAY PRESENT. WE ENGAGE WITH PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES OF UNDERSERVED CHILDREN TO SUPPORT THEM TO MAKE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL CHOICES, IDENTIFY SCHOOL MODELS THAT FIT THEIR FAMILIES' NEED, AND GET INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. SCHOOL SUPPORT: TOWARDS THE GOAL OF QUALITY, WE SUPPORT SCHOOLS THROUGH PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT IN AREAS SUCH AS TALENT DEVELOPMENT, FACILITY ACQUISITION AND OTHER ACADEMIC AREAS OF SUPPORT. NEW SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT: WE IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST-PERFORMING CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORKS IN THE NATION AND ACTIVELY RECRUIT THE BEST AMONG THEM TO ESTABLISH NEW SCHOOLS IN AREAS OF THE GREATEST NEED. WE WORK TO RECRUIT HIGH-CALIBER LEADERS AND DEVELOP HOMEGROWN LEADERS TO ESTABLISH GREAT SCHOOLS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN BEST PRACTICE STRATEGIES IN SCHOOL STARTUP THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP FELLOWS GRANT PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, WE ACTIVELY SEEK TO SECURE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE INVESTMENT IN LEADERSHIP AND ALL STARTUP ACTIVITIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS. TO DATE, WE HAVE AWARDED MORE THAN $22 MILLION IN GRANTS TO ALABAMA CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 August 2014.
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 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.