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College Choice Foundation a Nonprofit Organization

EIN 47-5631608 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE MYRIAD SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES FOR HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME BACKGROUNDS SO THEY CAN GAIN ENTRANCE INTO, ATTEND, AND GRADUATE COLLEGE

Income
$519,935
Spending
$515,482
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Highest pay
$65,000, 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $92,472 spent. CCF OFFERS YEAR-ROUND ACT PREP FOR APPROX 50 HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS WHICH CONSIST OF ACT TEST PREP COMPANIES OR TUTORS PROVIDING 30 OR MORE HOURS OF IN-DEPTH ACT TEST PREP, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL IN HELPING STUDENTS RAISE THEIR ACT SCORES SO THEY ARE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND HELPS BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE. THE GOAL IS FOR SCHOLARS TO INCREASE THEIR ACT TEST SCORE BY 2-4 POINTS ON AVERAGE. WE ALSO OFFER TWO WAIVERS SO THAT SCHOLARS CAN TAKE THE TEST MULTIPLE TIMES FOR FREE AS WELL AS COVER THE COST IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE TEST MORE THAN TWO TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, WE COVER THE COST OF APPLYING TO COLLEGES FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 SCHOLARS, WE ASSIST WITH THE COST TO FILE FINANCIAL AID FORMS LIKE THE CSS PROFILE. WE COVER THE COST OF ESSAY COACHING, PROFESSIONAL RESUME SERVICES AND COLLEGE-APPLICATION WORKSHOPS AND CAMPS.
  2. $190,632 spent. During the year, CCF takes appoximately 50 Scholars on cross-country college visits which require charter buses, airfare, meals, transportation, and lodging. These visits are imperative, as they allow Scholars to envision what four years on a college campus would look and feel like. We have found, repeatedly, that it is the in-person visit to a campus that is a game-changer. A campus visit allows Scholars to experience traveling to the school, the people who live and work there, and the actual learning environment on campus.
  3. $67,910 spent. CARE/COLLEGE For Scholars in college APPROX 150, CCF provides resources not covered by their financial aid applications that promote success in higher education like financing textbooks, lab fees, dorm items, tutoring, airfare to and from school, emergencies, storage unit expenses and undergraduate enrollment fees.
  4. Program Service Expenses 95,532, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 0 SEE SCHEDULE O
  5. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ENRICHMENT, EPIC CAMP, RECRUITMENT, SOAR CAMP AND TECHNOLOGY

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 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 June 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 2016.

    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.