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21st Century School Fund Inc

EIN 52-2139122 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceWeak39 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL FUND 21CSF WAS FOUNDED ON THE PREMISE THAT COMMUNITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING HEALTHY, SAFE, AND EDUCATIONALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE MISSION OF 21CSF IS TO BUILD THE PUBLIC WILL AND CAPACITY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Income
$549,620
Spending
$693,220
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
2.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
5
Highest pay
$124,337, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 26% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 December 31, 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. $488,282 spent. 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL FUND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES, DISTRICTS, AND NONPROFITS FOR RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, AND WRITING, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATIONS AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION PLANNING FOR FACILITIES, ENROLLMENT, AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT. A MAJOR ASPECT OF THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS THAT THE 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL FUND PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE NATIONAL CENTER ON SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE, A U.S. DEPTARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNDED INITIATIVE, AND TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON SCHOOL FACILITIES, AN ASSOCIATION FOR STATE FACILITIES OFFICIALS.
  2. $12,379 spent. 21ST CENTURY SCHOOL FUND PROVIDES COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN SUPPORT OF EQUITY ADVOCACY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DISCTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2024 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.