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College Summit Inc

EIN 52-2007028 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLLEGE SUMMIT, INC. D/B/A PEERFORWARD (PEERFORWARD)'S MISSION IS TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF POSITIVE PEER INFLUENCE TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF YOUTH LIVING IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO COLLEGE AND CAREERS. IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA, PEERFORWARD CREATES A CORPS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO LEAD THEIR PEERS TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
36
Volunteers
136
Highest pay
$346,735, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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

    16 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

    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 April 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 (2)
  1. $4.0 million spent. PEERFORWARD - THIS PROGRAM TRAINS INFLUENTIAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BUILD A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE BY PERSUADING AND COACHING THEIR CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS THROUGH THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. THESE STUDENTS ARE KNOWN AS PEER LEADERS, AND THEY ARE TRAINING IN POWERFUL SUMMER WORKSHOPS AND SCHOOL-YEAR TRAINING SESSION FOCUSING ON THREE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS SURROUNDING EARLY FAFSA FILING, APPLYING TO THREE OR MORE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND CONNECTING CAREER WITH ACADEMIC CHOICES AND PLANNING.
  2. $186,912 spent. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES - THIS PROGRAM DESIGNS AND EXPLORES NEW WAYS TO HELP ALL STUDENTS IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES NAVIGATE THE COLLEGE-GOING PROCESS BY COLLABORATING WITH GOVERNMENT, TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, BUSINESSES, FOUNDATIONS AND POLICY ORGANIZATIONS. IT CREATES NEW WAYS TO REACH STUDENTS, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILE APPLICATIONS THAT GUIDE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE COLLEGE ACCESS PROCESS AND SUPPORT PROGRAM ALUMNI BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAY ON TRACK WHILE IN COLLEGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 April 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 February 1997.

    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.