Black Student Fund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BSF is an educational equity organization advancing educational choice by affording underserved families access to independent schools and supporting their success. BSF has served tens of thousands of children; served more than seventy five BSF member schools K-12; and inspired replications across the Mid-Atlantic region. BSF is also a community resource collaborating with organizations advancing education.
- Income
- $284,622
- Spending
- $301,911
- Spent on programs
- 57%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $61,000, executive director
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
Weak: 27 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 74% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1557% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 91 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $46,448 spent. For more than fifty years, BSF has provided financial support for families at BSF Member Schools. BSF provides small tuition scholarships, funding for participation in summer and school year academic enrichment, youth development program/activities and BSF provides emergency and essential services financial support to BSF families
- $67,091 spent. The BSF/LSF Annual School Fair is a forum for Washington metropolitan area families to learn about independent school education and to engage students, teachers and administrators from more than 70 local and national independent schools and educational programs. This event also includes: workshops, chat rooms, recorded content and a digital resources library. The event served more than 1200 families and included more than 50 schools and educational organizations
- $41,287 spent. BSF Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) is a focused academic enrichment effort of BSF. BSF STEM is a series of connected programs and activities providing students with introductory and advanced STEM learning. With an anchor in math and coding, BSF Scholars and Affiliates participate in yearlong out of school learning; tech skill development and STEM awareness events
- $17,202 spent. Provided cultural experiences including Juneteenth, Long Way Down, and the Higher Ground
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1964.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.