Communities in Schools of Wake County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SURROUND STUDENTS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT, EMPOWERING THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE IN LIFE. CIS WAKE IS THE LOCAL AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL CIS NETWORK OF 160 AFFILIATES SERVING 2 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS 29 STATES. CIS WAKE'S VISION IS TO HELP SCHOOLS REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT PUT STUDENTS AT RISK OF WASTING THEIR POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 50%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $101,835, executive di
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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 2518 of 18 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $196,399 spent. SUCCESS COACH PROGRAM: CIS WAKE'S SUCCESS COACHES ARE EMBEDDED IN 7 PARTNER SCHOOLS TO DELIVER CIS MODEL OF INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS(WRAPAROUND SERVICES). SUCCESS COACHES WORK WITH STUDENTS EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES RELATED TO ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, TO SUPPORT POSITIVE STUDENT OUTCOMES. IN FY 2024-2025, 12,000+ STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOOL WIDE SUPPORTS AND 439 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM DIRECT CASE MANAGEMENT. AMONG CASE-MANAGED STUDENTS, 100% WERE PROMOTED AND 86% IMPROVED SOCIAL SKILLS, BASED ON SCHOOL DATA AND PROGRAM PROGRESS MEASURES.
- $928,814 spent. CHAMPS AFTER-SCHOOL & SUMMER ENRICHMENT: CIS WAKE OFFERS AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT IN 4 PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIIES AND 3 PARTNER SCHOOLS SERVING 200 STUDENTS ANNUALLY. CHAMPS PROGRAMMING ENGAGES STUDENTS IN: (A)STEM-FOCUSED, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING; (B)SMALL-GROUP INSTRUCTION AND TUTORING FACILITATED BY CERTIFIED EDUCATORS; AND (C)INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION LEVERAGING ONLINE ACADEMIC TOOLS. THIS INITIATIVE ALSO BUILDS THE STUDENTS' "COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT" BY ENGAGING FAMILIES AND 100+ VOLUNTEERS (SERVING 1,650 HOURS).
- CIS WAKE PATHWAYS: CIS WAKE PATHWAYS HELPS PARTICIPANTS (AGES 14- ADULT) PREPARE FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS INCLUDING EXPLORATION, ENROLLMENT, ENLISTMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. PARTICIPANTS BUILD COLLEGE/CAREER READINESS VIA WORKSHOPS, COLLEGE TOURS, AND LEVERAGING VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY FOR CAREER EXPLORATION. CIS WAKE PATHWAYS ALSO STRENGTHENS YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING BY OFFERING FREE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING TO ADULTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RESPECTIVELY.
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 February 1989.
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.