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California Charter Schools Association

EIN 51-0465703 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO MEET PARENT, EDUCATOR, AND COMMUNITY NEED FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTIONS BY SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR HIGH QUALITY NON-PROFIT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND SHARING THEIR SUCCESS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$14.1 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
12.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 80%
Employees
61
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$471,638, president and ceo

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: 74 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 (3)
  1. $7.1 million spent. DEFENDING AND PROTECTING CHARTER SCHOOLS- GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: INFLUENCES THE STATEWIDE POLICY ENVIRONMENT FOR CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ADVOCACY. - CHARTER SCHOOLS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: ADDRESSES CHALLENGES CONFRONTING CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND STRATEGIC LITIGATION.- LOCAL ADVOCACY AND RENEWAL SUPPORTS: STRENGTHENS THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM BY UNIFYING MEMBERS IN COLLECTIVE ACTION AND ADVOCATING DIRECTLY WITH LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND INFLUENCERS. PREPARES MEMBER SCHOOLS FOR CHARTER RENEWAL THROUGH TOOLS, TRAININGS, INDIVIDUALIZED CONSULTATION, AND COHORT SUPPORTS. - PUBLIC RELATIONS: ELEVATES THE SUCCESSES AND STORIES OF MEMBER CHARTER SCHOOLS AND DEFENDS THE MOVEMENT THROUGH OWNED AND EARNED MEDIA.
  2. $2.8 million spent. MEMBER AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT- MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT: PROVIDES MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO CRITICAL INFORMATION, EXCEPTIONAL RESOURCES AND CONVENINGS, STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, AND A POWERFUL COLLECTIVE MOVEMENT. - CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS CONFERENCE: CONVENES CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS, STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, AND VENDORS FOR INSPIRATION, LEARNING, AND CONNECTION. - VENDOR MEMBERSHIP: CONNECTS VENDOR PARTNERS TO MEMBER CHARTER SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL OPERATIONS. - PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CREATIVE SERVICES: SUPPORTS MEMBER CHARTER SCHOOLS IN STRENGTHENING THEIR PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIES. - DATA SERVICES: ENHANCES ACCESS TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF CHARTER SCHOOL DATA THROUGH DATA ANALYTICS AND VISUALIZATION SERVICES FOR OTHER CHARTER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
  3. $401,000 spent. CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH FUND- A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE CHARTER SCHOOL GROWTH IN CALIFORNIA.

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 November 6, 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 December 2003.

    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 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.