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The Correctional Education Association Inc

EIN 52-1933287 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.

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

What it says it does

TO PREPARE CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY BY EQUIPPING THEM WITH ACADEMIC CAREER/TECHNICAL, AND PERSONAL/SOCIAL SKILLS.

Income
$386,544
Spending
$356,464
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
1
Highest pay
$58,173, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 18 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $62,338 spent. AUDIT STANDARDS - THE ASSOCIATION HAS CONTRACTED WITH CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PERFORM EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS COMPLIANCE AUDITS INCLUDING STATE AGENCIES, COUNTIES, PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND OTHER CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES TO AWARD EDUCATIONAL ACCREDITATIONS BASED ON THE FINDINGS. CEA HAS BEGUN TRAINING NEW AUDITORS TO EXPAND THEIR EDUCATION STANDARDS COMPLIANCE AUDITS.
  2. $47,464 spent. CEA CONFERENCES - THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS TWO CONFERENCES PER YEAR. THERE IS THE FORUM IN THE SPRING AND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRAINING EVENT IN THE SUMMER. THE APRIL 2025 FORUM WAS HOSTED BY CEA-REGION 4 IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRAINING EVENT WAS HOSTED BY CEA REGION-1 IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
  3. $51,749 spent. PUBLICATIONS - CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES THE CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION JOURNAL 3 TIMES PER YEAR. CEA PROVIDES OUR EDITOR AND THE TECHNICAL EDITOR FOR THE JOURNAL AS WELL AS THE MAILING SERVICE ONCE THE JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED. THE JOURNAL IS A SCHOLARLY PUBLICATION RECOGNIZED IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION.
  4. $13,361 spent. MEMBERSHIP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1995.

    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.