Cead - Center for Education and Academic Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
We offer educational programming, resources and services for academic growth and professional development.
- Income
- $442,420
- Spending
- $459,030
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 1
- Highest pay
- $60,000, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 430% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 47% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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, 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 (4)
- $315,302 spent. Throughout 2025, CEAD continued to receive grant funding through the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP). These funds supported the delivery of mentoring, academic enrichment, and student development services at the following schools: * Canoga Park Elementary School * Calvert Charter for Enriched Studies * Sutter Middle School * Reed Middle School * North Hollywood High School * Reseda Charter High School
- $64,948 spent. CEAD's 2025 curriculum and annual calendar included a variety of college readiness and leadership experiences, including: * College Tour - University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) * College Tour - California Lutheran University (CLU) * Lady-Like Conference at UCLA * HBCU College Tour in partnership with the Pinkard Institute
- $28,929 spent. CEAD continued to expand its Career Development and Employment Training Program by providing participants with professional work experiences and industry exposure through opportunities with: * Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) * FIFA World Cup events at the Rose Bowl * PacSun (Pacific Sunwear) * Sony Music * Radford Studio Center * Paramount Pictures * Television City
- $2,550 spent. Scholarship Awards
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on May 15, 2017 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on March 15, 2018.
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 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 May 2018.
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.