Top Notch Scholars Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TOP NOTCH SCHOLARS IS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO HELPING INNER-CITY YOUTH DISCOVER THEIR LIFE PASSIONS AND CAREER GOALS BY BUILDING CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION, CHARACTER, AND SUCCESS. THROUGH MENTORSHIP, TRAINING, AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES IN OUR ACADEMIES AND INTERNSHIPS, TOP NOTCH EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE TOOLS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS, GROW AS LEADERS, AND BECOME IMPACTFUL CHANGE-MAKERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $444,014
- Spending
- $556,156
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 78%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 34
- Highest pay
- $99,040, ceo
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, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 23% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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)
- $114,508 spent. ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY: THE TOP NOTCH ENTREPRENEURIAL ACADEMY EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO THINK LIKE INNOVATORS AND PROBLEM-SOLVERS THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT. STUDENTS LEARN THE CORE FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIPMARKETING, SALES, COLD CALLING, DOOR KNOCKING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND LEADERSHIPWHILE MANAGING A REAL VENTURE: SELLING AND PROMOTING TOP NOTCH WATER. THROUGH MENTORSHIP, WORKSHOPS, AND DIRECT SALES EXPERIENCE, THEY BUILD THE CONFIDENCE, CREATIVITY, AND RESILIENCE NEEDED TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN BUSINESSES OR APPLY ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING IN ANY CAREER. EVERY DOLLAR FROM WATER SALES GOES DIRECTLY TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS, GIVING INNER-CITY YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE COLLEGE, TRADE PROGRAMS, OR REAL ESTATE CAREERS.
- $98,150 spent. COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY: THIS ACADEMY HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE ALL POST- SECONDARY PATHWAYSCOLLEGE, TRADES, MILITARY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND MORE WHILE GAINING PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS AND FINANCIAL GUIDANCE TO AVOID THE DEBT TRAP. THROUGH COLLEGE TOURS, CAREER PANELS, AND ALUMNI MENTORSHIP, STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES, AND LEARN HOW TO STAND OUT AS LEADERS IN THEIR FUTURE CAREERS.
- $89,970 spent. GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS. THE ORGANIZATION MAKES GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ORGANIZATION MISSION.
- $106,329 spent. OTHER PROGRAM COSTS.
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
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 October 13, 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 December 2024.
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 March 2015.
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 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.