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The Central Scholarship Bureau Inc

EIN 52-6012589 · Owings Mills, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP BUREAU, INC. (ORGANIZATION) IS A MARYLAND NON-STOCK NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS MARYLANDERS FULFILL THEIR DREAMS OF PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION BY MAKING HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)THE ORGANIZATION AWARDS NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO HIGH-PERFORMING STUDENTS THROUGHOUT MARYLAND, OFFERS COLLEGE CASH FINANCIAL EDUCATION SEMINARS TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO HELP THEM BECOME MORE INFORMED HIGHER EDUCATION CONSUMERS AND ADVOCATES FOR LEGISLATION THAT MAKES HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL MARYLANDERS.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
31.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
8
Volunteers
55
Highest pay
$171,358, president

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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 June 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. $982,832 spent. CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP (CS) PROVIDES NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH-PERFORMING STUDENTS PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREES. FOR MOST PROGRAMS, STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $11,000 PER YEAR IN ASSISTANCE FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025, CS PROCESSED NEARLY 2,570 APPLICATIONS AND AWARDED 146 SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS.CS PROVIDES GRANTS FOR DEGREE AND CAREER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS, AND CS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING FUNDING FOR DEGREE PROGRAMS WITH EMERGENCY GRANTS FOR NON-EDUCATION EXPENSES. EXAMPLES OF SUCH EXPENSES INCLUDE MEDICAL BILLS, TRANSPORTATION EMERGENCIES, OR REPLACEMENT OF ESSENTIAL BELONGINGS AFTER THEFT OR FIRE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON JUNE 30, 2025, CS MADE EMERGENCY GRANTS TO 3 STUDENTS TOTALING $1,575. CAREER-TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FIELDS WHERE THERE IS A VERIFIED WORKFORCE DEMAND, AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A LIVING WAGE, RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION AND A PATH FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT. STUDENTS ARE QUALIFIED BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED, WITH PREFERENCE GIVEN TO BALTIMORE CITY RESIDENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON JUNE 30, 2025, CS AWARDED CAREER-TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS TO 13 STUDENTS. IN ORDER TO COVER THE OPERATING SERVICES FOR SCHOLARSHIP ADMINISTRATION, CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP CHARGES A SMALL PERCENTAGE TO MANAGE THE 80 SCHOLARSHIPS IN OUR PORTFOLIO.
  2. $101,177 spent. INTEREST-FREE LOANS ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS PURSUING UNDERGRADUATE, GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL DEGREES WHO QUALIFY BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $10,000 IN ASSISTANCE FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. NEW LOANS OF $64,250 WERE AWARDED TO 19 STUDENTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025. CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP (CS) ALSO MANAGED EXISTING LOANS OF APPROXIMATELY $1,280,000 FOR MORE THAN 321 STUDENTS.
  3. $298,775 spent. CS'S STUDENT AWARDS CEREMONY RECOGNIZES SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON JUNE 30, 2025, STUDENTS WERE RECOGNIZED AT THE CENTENNIAL GALA, A CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY. PAST RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE LOAN PAYDOWN AWARD, WHICH PROVIDES ONE RANDOMLY DRAWN STUDENT UP TO $30,000 FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT DEBT RELIEF (NOT INCLUDING LOANS FROM CS). DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING ON JUNE 30, 2025, CS AWARDED A LOAN PAYDOWN AWARD FOR 1 STUDENT.
  4. COLLEGE CASH IS A FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERIES OFFERED AS A FREE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT HELPS STUDENTS AND PARENTS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX FINANCIAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS. THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE STUDENTS AND PARENTS MAKE INFORMED ECONOMIC CHOICES WHEN SELECTING A COLLEGE. THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD DISPLACEMENT, WHICH HAPPENS WHEN COLLEGES REDUCE THEIR INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AFTER A STUDENT RECEIVES A PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP. MARYLAND WAS THE FIRST STATE TO BAN SCHOLARSHIP DISPLACEMENT FOR ALL MARYLAND SYSTEM COLLEGES IN 2017. CS ALSO HAS SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH 13 PRIVATE COLLEGES IN MARYLAND THAT AGREED NOT TO DISPLACE PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS ISSUED BY CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 June 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 June 1952.

    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.