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Center for Education Reform

EIN 52-1847187 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO IMPROVED ECONOMIC OUTCOMES FOR ALL AMERICANS, PARTICULARLY OUR CHILDREN, ENSURING THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR INNOVATION, FREEDOM, AND FLEXIBILITY THROUGHOUT U.S. EDUCATION.

Income
$11.7 million
Spending
$22.6 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
19
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$547,821, founder and 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 92% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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 (2)
  1. $20.7 million spent. "GRANT MAKING"THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION REFORM ADMINISTERS THE YASS PRIZE FOR SUSTAINABLE, TRANSFORMATIONAL, OUTSTANDING AND PERMISSIONLESS EDUCATION, WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL AWARDS TO SELECTED SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION PROVIDERS WHICH PROVIDE OUTSTANDING EDUCATION TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS MANAGES RELATED GRANTS UNDER THE YASS FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION.
  2. $1.5 million spent. "COMMUNICATIONS"THE CENTER FOR EDUCATION REFORM PROVIDES READY ACCESS TO THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF INFORMATION ABOUT EDUCATION ANNUALLY. CER DEVELOPS AND MARKETS IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH MATERIALS AND PUBLICATIONS, WEBSITES, CONFERENCES, MEETINGS, AND THROUGH ABUNDANT CONTACT WITH THE NEWS MEDIA; TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUES AROUND EDUCATION ARE WELL-UNDERSTOOD BY PARENTS, POLICYMAKERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. ANNUALLY CER PROVIDES INFORMATION AND FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO MORE THAN 1000 MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES, WHOSE NEWS COVERAGE FURTHER EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT NUMEROUS EDUCATION SUBJECTS.

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 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 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 March 1994.

    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.