Providence Promise
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDENCE PROMISE PROMOTES HIGH EDUCATIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND MORE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS BY ADVOCATING FOR COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, INCREASING FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND REDUCING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
- Income
- $783,915
- Spending
- $855,447
- Spent on programs
- 63%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 83%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $106,345, executive director
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
Weak: 37 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1563% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 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)
- $536,446 spent. PROVIDENCE PROMISE'S UNIQUE, MULTI- PRONGED STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED TO HOLISTICALLY ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES FACED BY PROVIDENCE STUDENTS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION.EARLY ENROLLMENT: PARENTS/GUARDIANS ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN BY THE TIME THEY ENTER THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHEN CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO GRADE NINE ARE ELIGIBLE.COLLEGE SAVINGS: UPON ENROLLMENT, FAMILIES OPEN A 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR EACH CHILD AND CONTRIBUTE AN AVERAGE OF 1% OF THEIR GROSS ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME INTO EACH CHILD'S ACCOUNT FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO 15 YEARS. PROVIDENCE PROMISE PROVIDES AN INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF $100 TO EACH CHILD'S ACCOUNT, AND ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN TO EARN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES TO BUILD THEIR COLLEGE SAVINGS BY ACHIEVING CERTAIN GOALS.FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: PROVIDENCE PROMISE FACILITATES ONGOING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL LITERACY THROUGH SCHOOL- BASED EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE VISITS, REFERRALS TO COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS, AND MORE. THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A DEDICATED PARENT COUNCIL COMPRISED OF PARENT LEADERS WHO INFORM PROGRAM CHANGES AND FUTURE WORKSHOP TOPICS, AND HELP TO PLAN EVENTS.REDUCING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN: PROVIDENCE PROMISE WILL WORK WITH EACH STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILY TO IDENTIFY THE HIGHER EDUCATION CHOICES THAT BEST FIT THE NEEDS AND GOALS OF EACH CHILD AND TO ASSURE THAT ALL ACCESSIBLE FINANCIAL AID IS SECURED, INCLUDING FUNDS THAT MAY BE RAISEDBY PROVIDENCE PROMISE.
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
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 June 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 February 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 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.