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Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas

EIN 56-0672085 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EDUCATING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WORKFORCE READINESS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY, THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL, HANDS-ON PROGRAMS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.4 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
-8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
23
Highest pay
$257,878, 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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 36 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. $1.7 million spent. JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT'S APPROACH TO DEVELOPING HIGH-QUALITY ECONOMIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FORTY-NINE COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THREE COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS BASED ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EDUCATION AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS AND THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, ARRIVE AT REASONED JUDGEMENTS ABOUT ECONOMIC ISSUES AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FULFILL RESPONSIBILITIES AS PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND CITIZENS OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY. PROGRAMS ARE RUN AT THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SENIOR HIGH LEVELS FOR IN-SCHOOL CLASSES. THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CENTER IS USED FOR GENERAL PROGRAM PURPOSES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS DEVELOPED A PROGRAM, BIZTOWN, WHICH IS HELD AT THE CENTRAL FACILITY. IN FY 2025 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL CAROLINAS SERVED 29,741 STUDENTS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 May 1994.

    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.