Chiefs for Change
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHIEFS FOR CHANGE ACCELERATES PROGRESS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION BY BUILDING LEADERS AND SYSTEMS' CAPACITY TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH 21ST-CENTURY EXPERIENCES THAT PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS ON A PATHWAY TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOBILITY.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $9.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $360,718, 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 46% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 7 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
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 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 (1)
- $8.4 million spent. CHIEFS FOR CHANGE (CFC) FILLS A CRITICAL GAP IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR BY EQUIPPING SYSTEM-LEVEL LEADERS WITH THE TRAINING, TOOLS, AND INFLUENCE NEEDED TO DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR STUDENTS. THROUGH ITS INTEGRATED FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SYSTEM SUPPORT, AND POLICY AND ADVOCACY, CFC ADVANCES EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE ACROSS K12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:CFC PREPARES BOTH SITTING AND ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENTS AND STATE CHIEFS TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF MODERN EDUCATION LEADERSHIP WITH CLARITY, COMPASSION, AND COURAGE. THROUGH COHORT-BASED FELLOWSHIPS, EXECUTIVE COACHING, AND PEER MENTORSHIP, CFC SUPPORTS LEADERS IN BUILDING THE SKILLS, MINDSETS, AND NETWORKS REQUIRED TO LEAD TRANSFORMATIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE.SYSTEM SUPPORT:CFC PARTNERS DIRECTLY WITH MEMBER DISTRICTS AND STATES TO CO-DESIGN AND DELIVER CUSTOMIZED ENGAGEMENTS AND COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT ACCELERATE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THESE ENGAGEMENTS HAVE FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING EARLY LITERACY, BUILDING SUSTAINABLE EDUCATOR PIPELINES, RESPONSIBLY INTEGRATING NEW TECHNOLOGIES, TRANSFORMING HIGH SCHOOLS, AND IMPROVING POSTSECONDARY READINESS AND OUTCOMES.POLICY AND ADVOCACY:CFC AMPLIFIES THE COLLECTIVE VOICE OF BOLD EDUCATION LEADERS TO SHAPE POLICY AND PRACTICE AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. THROUGH STRATEGIC CONVENINGS, POLICY BRIEFS, AND PUBLIC ADVOCACY, CFC MEMBERS INFLUENCE EDUCATION AGENDAS THAT PROMOTE EQUITY, INNOVATION, AND STUDENT SUCCESS. BY CENTERING PRACTITIONER EXPERTISE IN POLICY DISCUSSIONS, CFC ENSURES THAT THE SYSTEMS SERVING STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED, AND BUILT FOR LONG-TERM IMPACT.
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 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 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.