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Catholic Schools Center of Excellence

EIN 47-3560859 · Edina, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (CSCOE) IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 2015 TO ASSIST CATHOLIC PRESCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THEIR QUEST TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AND INCREASE ENROLLMENT.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$11.2 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
21
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$164,865, president

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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 38% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 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 (2)
  1. $9.4 million spent. IN ITS MISSION TO ASSIST CATHOLIC PRESCHOOL-8TH GRADE SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE, CSCOE PARTNERS WITH PRINCIPALS AT EACH SCHOOL USING A ONE SIZE FITS ONE CUSTOMIZED APPROACH THAT FOSTERS ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION, AND INCLUSIVE DECISION MAKING. THROUGH THIS APPROACH, CSCOE SHARES INNOVATIVE IDEAS, SOUND BUSINESS PRACTICES, PROVEN STRATEGIES, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES THAT HELP EACH SCHOOL MEET ITS SPECIFIC BUSINESS, ACADEMIC, AND SPIRITUAL GOALS. CSCOE INVESTS IN EXCELLENCE BY PROVIDING COST-EFFECTIVE, CENTRALIZED SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, PROBLEM-SOLVING THAT ADDRESSES EACH SCHOOLS PARTICULAR CHALLENGES, AND THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF ASSESSMENT TESTING. AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST INCLUDE PROGRAMMING FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO ADDRESS STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS; BEST-IN-CLASS LITERACY TRAINING FOR KINDERGARTEN-3RD GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS; PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT FOSTERS A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO STUDENT ACADEMIC GROWTH; IMPLEMENTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) INITIATIVES; SUPPORTING THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF PRESCHOOL STUDENTS, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS; AND FOSTERING ENGAGEMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, STEM, AND THE ARTS THROUGH STUDENT COMPETITIONS. SUCCESS IN OUR ENDEAVOR TO ENHANCE EXCELLENCE CAN BE MEASURED THROUGH TEST SCORES, GRADUATION AND COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATES, PARENT SATISFACTION, AND SCHOOL RETENTION AND GROWTH RATES.
  2. $664,812 spent. CSCOE UTILIZES BOTH DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND THE SPONSORSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION OF CENTRALIZED PROGRAMS IN ITS MISSION TO HELP CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INCREASE ENROLLMENT. SPECIFICALLY, CSCOE PROVIDES GRANTS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND, AND IMPROVE PRESCHOOLS; TO CONDUCT DIRECT MARKETING PROGRAMS TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS; AND TO CREATE AND/OR ENHANCE SCHOOL WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES. CSCOE HAS ALSO PROVIDED FINANCIAL GRANTS TO RECOGNIZE AND REWARD SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ACHIEVED SPECIFIC ENROLLMENT MILESTONES. CENTRALIZED ENROLLMENT-RELATED SUPPORT HAS INCLUDED IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-WIDE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING INITIATIVES; PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR LATINO OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT EFFORTS; AND TRAINING TO ASSIST SCHOOLS WITH CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING THEIR ENROLLMENT PLANS. SUCCESS IN OUR ENDEAVOR TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED THROUGH CONSISTENT PRESCHOOL-8TH GRADE ENROLLMENT INCREASES AND SCHOOL EXPANSIONS.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.