Communities in Schools of Charlotte Mecklenburg Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.
- Income
- $5.1 million
- Spending
- $9.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 7.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 56%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 52
- Highest pay
- $201,000, 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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 32% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 88% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2522 of 22 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)
- $5.6 million spent. School-based Programming - Communities In Schools Charlotte assigns full-time staff to specific Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) elementary, middle, PreK-8, and high school - to work collaboratively with the entire school team on a daily basis to impact student success. Our Communities In Schools Site Coordinators utilize a Developmental Relationships framework and the Whole Child Approach to holistically evaluate both the needs and innate strengths of the child to determine what a student may require to stay and succeed in school and beyond, and then deliver those services and/or resources. Communities In Schools Site Coordinator presence in the schools allows them to form lasting, meaningful relationships with the students and families they support and with the CMS staff in the schools with whom Communities In Schools partners.Continued on Schedule O. In addition to providing direct case-management and Integrated Student Supports, Communities In Schools Site Coordinators are extremely knowledgeable of, work with, and refer students and families to other Mecklenburg County community agencies to ensure students and families get additional services as needed. This collaborative approach ensures a seamless, efficient use of community resources and coordinated efforts to increase the likelihood of school success, high school graduation and college and career readiness and is a cost-effective approach for improving student outcomes. The Communities In Schools service delivery model focuses on attendance, behavior, academics and parent engagement along with social-emotional development at all school-age levels. Effective, evidence-and research-based best-practice student interventions are matched appropriately to each child, delivered at each level Pre-K through Grade 12, and evolve or are modified as students needs change. Students are referred to Communities In Schools by principals, school staff, social workers, community agencies, parents, and Communities In Schools Site Coordinators based upon known risk factors associated with low performance or disengagement. Students are assessed and an Individual Student Plan is developed for each child based upon not only the needs and associated risk factors for a student, but also based on the students strengths, potential, and unique characteristics to nurture.
- $705,170 spent. Talent Search Program - Talent Search is a TRiO Program administered by Communities In Schools and funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is delivered through a case-management model by Communities In Schools Talent Search Counselors at four CMS high schools, serving approximately 1,000 students annually. The focus of the program is to assist low income, would-be first generation college students in the successful completion of high school as well as enrollment in post-secondary education through a variety of career exploration, college preparation, and social/cultural development activities. Talent Search Counselors also assist students with the shift from high school to college, through their first semester in college.
- $617,749 spent. Safe Journey - The Communities In Schools Safe Journey Parents as Teachers program, funded primarily by Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, assists pregnant and parenting teens who are committed to completing high school while simultaneously enhancing interactions with their child, their understanding of child development, and overall family well-being. Safe Journey serves 100+ teenage parents annually at thirteen CMS high school sites. Students enrolled in Safe Journey participate in bi-monthly home visits with their case managers, group connection sessions, and targeted health and developmental screenings. Safe Journey participants also benefit from access to quality childcare, referrals for community resources, and scholarship opportunities for eligible program graduates.
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 June 1986.
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.
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