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Challenger School Foundation

EIN 47-1405971 · Sandy, UT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHALLENGER'S EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES ARE CONTAINED IN ITS LONG STANDING MISSION WHICH IS TO DELIVER AN EDUCATION THAT: PREPARES CHILDREN TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT, PRODUCTIVE INDIVIDUALS; TEACHES CHILDREN TO THINK, SPEAK, AND WRITE WITH CLARITY, PRECISION, AND INDEPENDENCE; LEADS CHILDREN TO VALUE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY AND UNALIENABLE RIGHTS; AND INSPIRES CHILDREN TO EMBRACE CHALLENGE AND FIND JOY AND SELF-WORTH THROUGH ACHIEVEMENT.

Income
$209.9 million
Spending
$148.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
34.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
1,661
Highest pay
$457,570, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 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 July 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 (5)
  1. $35.8 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CHALLENGER EDUCATED APPROXIMATELY 3,212 STUDENTS IN ITS 3 AND 4 YEAR OLD PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. CHILDREN GRADUATING FROM CHALLENGER'S PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE PREPARED TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH A HEAD START THAT PLACES THEM ONE OR TWO YEARS AHEAD OF THEIR PEERS.
  2. $74.0 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CHALLENGER EDUCATED APPROXIMATELY 5,179 STUDENTS IN ITS KINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS. ON THE MOST RECENT IOWA ASSESSMENTS, CHALLENGER'S AVERAGE KINDERGARTENER OUTSCORED 98 OF 100 TEST TAKERS AT HIS/HER GRADE LEVEL, WITH SIMILAR RESULTS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 1 THROUGH 5.
  3. $19.1 million spent. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, CHALLENGER EDUCATED APPROXIMATELY 1,059 STUDENTS IN ITS MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES. ON THE MOST RECENT IOWA ASSESSMENTS, CHALLENGER'S AVERAGE EIGHTH GRADER OUTSCORED 99 OF 100 TEST TAKERS AT HIS/HER GRADE LEVEL, WITH SIMILAR RESULTS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 AND 7.
  4. $987,329 spent. CHALLENGER IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ITS STUDENTS WITH A SUPERIOR EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY HAS 27 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, UTAH, IDAHO, NEVADA, AND TEXAS. EACH LOCATION PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHICH INCLUDES DAILY MEALS AND SNACKS. MANY CHALLENGER LOCATIONS OFFER AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED TO STAY BEFORE OR AFTER REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS VARIOUS EXTRACURRICULAR CLASSES SUCH AS SOCCER AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MUSIC, DANCE, SPECIALIZED ART, CHESS, ROBOTICS, AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
  5. CHALLENGER IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ITS STUDENTS WITH A SUPERIOR EDUCATION. THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY HAS 27 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, UTAH, IDAHO, NEVADA, AND TEXAS. EACH LOCATION PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHICH INCLUDES DAILY MEALS AND SNACKS. MANY CHALLENGER LOCATIONS OFFER AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED TO STAY BEFORE OR AFTER REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS VARIOUS EXTRACURRICULAR CLASSES SUCH AS SOCCER AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MUSIC, DANCE, SPECIALIZED ART, CHESS, ROBOTICS, AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 August 2014.

    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.