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Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust Inc

EIN 52-1072250 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE BALTIMORE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP TRUST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SEVENTEEN INDEPENDENT MEMBER SCHOOLS, RECRUITS AND SUPPORTS THROUGH THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS ACADEMICALLY AMBITIOUS, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL NEED FROM THE BALTIMORE AREA. ONCE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED, B.E.S.T. POSITIONS THEM FOR SUCCESS THROUGH ACADEMIC PREPARATION, CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
14
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$169,158, 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

    50 of 50 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 (1)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THE THREE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE BALTIMORE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP TRUST INCLUDE OUR ADMISSIONS SUPPORT, OUR STUDENT / PARENT PROGRAMS AND OUR FACILITATION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS. IN ADMISSIONS, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING TO APPLICANTS AND THEIR PARENTS. OUR STUDENT AND PARENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PARENT NETWORKING AND COLLEGE-BOUND SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, B.E.S.T. BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS AND FACILITATES COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL LEADERS THROUGHOUT BALTIMORE. THE TOTALITY OF OUR PROGRAMMATIC WORK SUPPORTS APPLICANT STUDENTS AND PARENTS, ENROLLED STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY IN BALTIMORE.

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 September 1977.

    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.