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Dc Charter School Alliance

EIN 52-2035104 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BE THE UNIFYING VOICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, DRIVING STRATEGIC ADVOCACY AND PROMOTING COLLECTIVE ACTION TO CHAMPION POLICIES THAT ADVANCE A THRIVING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
10
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$307,142, executive director

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 64% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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. $1.6 million spent. ADVOCACY: SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN JUNE 2020, DC ALLIANCE HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY ADVOCATE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. IN AREAS OF ADVOCACY, DC ALLIANCE HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROPONENT FOR GREATER ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES, EQUITABLE FUNDING, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS' AUTONOMY THAT IS GUARANTEED IN THE SCHOOL REFORM ACT. IN ADDITION, DC ALLIANCE AMPLIFIES THE VOICE OF DC'S PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN WORKING GROUPS, TASK FORCES, AND PANELS IN REFERENCE TO THE DC PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD, THE OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, THE DEPUTY MAYOR FOR EDUCATION, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN 2024, DC ALLIANCE CONTINUED TO DIRECT ITS ATTENTION TO GROWING THE CHARTER ADVOCACY BASE BY ENGAGING AND TRAINING MORE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ITS EFFORTS. IN TOTAL, DC ALLIANCE'S TEAMS TESTIFIED 16 TIMES, AND THERE WERE 176 CHARTER LEADER TESTIMONIES.
  2. $532,878 spent. SCHOOL SUPPORT: DC ALLIANCE'S ADVOCACY IS STRENGTHENED BY THE SUCCESS OF THE CHARTER SECTOR, WHICH IS CLOSELY TIED TO ITS SCHOOL SUPPORT WORK, FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SCHOOL QUALITY. DC ALLIANCE PROVIDES A RANGE OF SUPPORT TO ITS MEMBERS, WHICH CONSIST OF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE 68 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE 134 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DC ALLIANCE BRINGS SCHOOL LEADERS TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES; OFFERS HIGH-QUALITY RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING ALIGNED TO ITS MEMBERS' UNQIUE NEEDS; CONNECTS THEM WITH PARTNERS; ADDRESSES IMMEDIATE NEEDS; AND PROVIDES COMPLIANCE AND CHARTER APPLICATION/RENEWAL SUPPORT. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF SCHOOL LEADER MEMBERS ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF FORUMS DURING 2024. DC ALLIANCE HOSTED FIVE MONTHLY VIRTUAL LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY LEADER'S MEETINGS, TWO IN-PERSON LEADER SUMMITS, AND SEVERAL LEADER-TO-LEADER CONVERSATIONS ON A VARIETY OF TIMELY TOPICS. DC ALLIANCE LAUNCHED TWO LEADERSHIP COHORTS FOR NEW SCHOOL LEADERS AND LEADERS OF SMALL SCHOOLS, AND FOUR AFFINITY SPACES (ACADEMICS, GRANTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND STUDENT SUPPORT) FOR SCHOOL STAFF TO COLLABORATE. DC ALLIANCE ALSO DEVELOPED NUMEROUS RESOURCES, LED WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS, AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE AND SECTOR-WIDE PROBLEM SOLVING SUPPORT.

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 July 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.