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Access College Foundation

EIN 54-1440734 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ADVISORY SERVICES FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE APPLICATION AND FINANCIAL AID PROCESSES, AND CAREER ASSISTANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING THEIR CERTIFICATION DEGREE OR PROGRAMS. THESE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY/REMOTELY

Income
$7.9 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
11.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
53
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$310,461, president & ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    37 of 38 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 (1)
  1. $4.8 million spent. HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AND COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM: THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING TO MORE THAN 5,095 HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS, SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING 2024 AND 4,391 IN 2023. OF THOSE STUDENTS SERVED IN 2024, 3,718 FAMILIES (73%), WERE VERIFIED TO BE LOW-INCOME AND IN 2023, 3,199 (73%) WERE VERIFIED TO BE LOW-INCOME. POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING PROGRAM: THESE PROGRAM INCLUDES SCHOOL-BASED AND VIRTUAL ADVISORY SERVICES FOR COLLEGE AND POSTSECONDARY TRAINING PREPARATION AND SUCCESS, COLLEGE APPLICATION/ TESTING FEE PAYMENTS, GUIDANCE THROUGH THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS, COLLEGE TOURS TO PROSPECTIVE CAMPUSES, AND THE LEVERAGING OF FINANCIAL AID, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND GRANTS NEEDED TO ATTEND COLLEGE OR OTHER POSTSECONDARY TRAINING. EACH HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR AND SENIOR COMPLETES AN "ACCESS SERVICES APPLICATION" AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR OUR USE IN DETERMINING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES TO RECEIVE FEE WAIVERS AND FEE PAYMENTS MADE BY ACCESS ON THEIR BEHALF. THIS APPLICATION ALSO DEFINES THEIR FAMILY'S LEVEL OF POVERTY, BASED ON FEDERAL GUIDELINES. WHEN FINANCIAL AID FORMS (FAFSAS) ARE FILED FOR THE SENIORS AND OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS, THE FAMILY SIZE AND INCOME INFORMATION ARE CAPTURED ON THE COMPLETED "FAFSA CONSULTATION FORM UPDATED IN OUR STUDENT DATABASE. THIS INFORMATION WAS USED TO VERIFY THAT 73% OF THE STUDENTS IN 2024 AND 73% OF THE STUDENTS IN 2023 BELONGED TO A FAMILY WHOSE ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME WAS NOT IN EXCESS OF 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM: WITH OUR FOUNDATION'S PRIMARY TARGET BEING STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS, WE BEGIN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK OF EARLY COLLEGE AWARENESS/READINESS ACTIVITIES TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADES AND THEN FOLLOW THEM INTO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 9TH AND 10TH GRADES. MUCH OF THIS WORK IS DONE IN GROUP SETTINGS AND STUDENTS IN THESE GRADE LEVELS DO NOT DISCLOSE THEIR FAMILY'S FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE SERVICES. WE DO KNOW THAT THE SCHOOLS THESE STUDENTS ATTEND HAVE A MAJORITY POPULATION RECEIVING FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE OUR MISSION IS TO SERVE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, WE KNOW THAT IN THE PROCESS OF PROVIDING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION PLANNING TO THESE LOW-INCOME STUDENTS, OTHER STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION OR BENEFIT FROM ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN GROUP SETTINGS.

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 November 6, 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 1988.

    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 November 4, 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.