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Council for Opportunity in Education

EIN 52-1221301 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO FURTHER THE EXPANSION OF COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

Income
$10.7 million
Spending
$10.6 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
31
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$450,476, 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: 42 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 127% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 33 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

    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

    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 (5)
  1. $2.9 million spent. CONFERENCE AND SEMINARS:CONDUCT ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND SEMINARS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND EDUCATE MEMBERS AND ATTENDEES ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.4 million spent. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION:DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION TO MEMBERS ON ISSUES RELEVANT TO LOW INCOME AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS INVOLVED IN POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PROGRAM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL WORKING WITH COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PRACTITIONERS AND INSTITUTIONS TO LEARN OR ENHANCE STRATEGIES IN WORKING WITH LOW-INCOME AND FIRST-GENERATION COMMUNITIES.
  4. $1.3 million spent. GRANTS:PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL WORKING WITH COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS PRACTITIONERS AND INSTITUTIONS TO CREATE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS TO HAVE LOW-INCOME, FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS SUCCEED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
  5. $879,351 spent. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS:GATHERING AND SUMMARIZING CURRENT AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO MEMBER INTEREST.

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 January 1982.

    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.