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Living Classrooms Foundation Inc

EIN 52-1369524 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, OPERATED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, PROVIDING HANDS ON EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING FOR STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH. THE FOUNDATION USES MARITIME SETTINGS, COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS AND OTHER CHALLENGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, WITH A LOW STAFF TO STUDENT RATIO. OUR EXPERIENCE BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS EMPHASIZE THE APPLIED LEARNING OF MATH, SCIENCE, LANGUAGE ARTS, HISTORY, ECONOMICS AND ECOLOGY. KEY OBJECTIVES OF ALL LIVING CLASSROOMS PROGRAMS ARE CAREER DEVELOPMENT, COOPERATIVE LEARNING, ELEVATING SELF-ESTEEM, AND FOSTERING MULTICULTURAL EXCHANGE. LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION PROVIDES OVER 30 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$14.8 million
Spending
$10.0 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
22.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
408
Volunteers
4,629
Highest pay
$502,886, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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

    83 of 83 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 December 31, 2024, 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. LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION OPERATES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, PROVIDING HANDS ON EDUCATION AND JOB SKILL TRAINING FOR STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH.
  2. $873,016 spent. LIVING CLASSROOMS FOUNDATION DC PROVIDES YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH CHALLENGING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OFFERS SHIPBOARD AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $656,554 spent. INNER HARBOR PADDLEBOATS EDUCATES AND HIRES AT-RISK TEENAGERS TO MANAGE, RUN AND MAINTAIN PADDLEBOAT AND ELECTRIC BOAT RENTALS AT THE INNER HARBOR OF BALTIMORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1998.

    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.