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Equal Chance for Education

EIN 46-4528066 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceWeak45 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH THE COMPLETION OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION BY PROVIDING DIRECT PAYMENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
5
Volunteers
128
Highest pay
$90,000, executive di

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ECE PROVIDES PROGRAMMING, MENTORSHIP, CAREER GUIDANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TN. PARTNER COLLEGES PROVIDE A NEGOTIATED INSTITUTIONAL RATE FOR ECE SCHOLARS TO CREATE PATHWAYS FOR COLLEGE PERSISTENCE. EACH ECE SCHOLARSHIP IS 6,250, THE ECE SCHOLAR AND FAMILY ARE ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE 4,000 TOWARD TUITION, AND THE PARTNER COLLEGE PROVIDES INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING TOWARD THE REMAINING BALANCE, ON AVERAGE THIS IS AN IN-KIND GIFT OF 21,000 PER STUDENT PER YEAR. ECE COMMITS TO SUPPORTING SCHOLARS BEYOND THE SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS BY CREATING PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO RETAIN AND FOSTER CAREER READY GRADUATES.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 February 2015.

    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.