Great Public Schools Now
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION INVESTS IN SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES THAT CATALYZE EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, CONVENES LEADERS AND UPLIFTS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING TO ADVOCATE FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $6.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 11.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 15
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $348,734, executive director
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
Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 73% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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: 87 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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, 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)
- $1.9 million spent. COLLECTIVE ACTION INITIATIVE:OUR COLLECTIVE ACTION INITIATIVE INVESTS IN STRENGTHENING THE ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR LOS ANGELES PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO AMPLIFY THEIR ADVOCACY THROUGH EARNED AND SOCIAL MEDIA. A SMALL PORTION OF THE INITIATIVE ALSO SUPPORTS ONLINE PUBLICATIONS TO EXPAND THEIR COVERAGE OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC EDUCATION.
- $1.8 million spent. STUDENT IMPACT: OUR STUDENT IMPACT INITIATIVE, FORMERLY EDUCATION RECOVERY, EXPANDS ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT, AND CAREER-CONNECTED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS ACROSS LOS ANGELES. THIS INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS THAT DELIVER FREE SUMMER PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, INCREASE ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIPS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS, AND STRENGTHEN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS THROUGH TARGETED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF, ENSURING STUDENTS EXPERIENCE ENGAGING, HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY.
- $769,850 spent. CATALYTIC INITIATIVES:OUR CATALYTIC INITIATIVES FUND SUPPORTS OUR RESEARCH AND POLL PUBLICATIONS AS WELL AS OUR INNOVATION PILOTS. THIS INCLUDES OUR ANNUAL POLLING OF LOS ANGELES FAMILIES ON THEIR PERSPECTIVES OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ON THE STATE OF LOS ANGELES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- $691,057 spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE ELEVATES PUBLIC EDUCATION AS A CIVIC PRIORITY AND INCREASES NONPARTISAN VOTER TURNOUT THROUGH DIRECT VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND DIGITAL MEDIA.
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? 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 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 February 2016.
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.