Sandy Springs Education Force Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SSEFs mission is to create opportunities that educate, inspire and prepare Sandy Springs public students for a competitive world
- Income
- $326,719
- Spending
- $303,163
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 13.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $50,634, executive dir.
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 21 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $264,792 spent. During the year ended June 30, 2025, SSEF impacted these students through the following programs:AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS(i) After-School All-StarsThis comprehensive after-school program takes place five days per week/ two hours per day at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, incorporating academic remediation and enrichment. The program is implemented in collaboration with the Georgia State University Research Foundation and After-School All-Stars Atlanta. Ninety percent of the students in the program are economically disadvantaged. Students consistently show an increase in grades, a decrease in disciplinary infractions, and an increase in attendance as a result of participation in this program. (ii) After-School North Springs - This high school program incorporates many of the same elements as its middle school counterpart. Operating two afternoons a week at North Springs High School, the program offers academic support and enrichment activities, field trips, exposure to college and vocational schools, and career opportunities. MENTORING/ROLE MODELS(iii) SAIL& Senior Push For the SAIL program at Riverwood International Charter School and Senior Push at North Springs High School, seniors are identified by counselors as being on target to graduate, but without post-secondary plans. Volunteers receive training to help students identify their skills and interests and provide resources for students to learn about potential schools and programs that would be a good fit. Volunteers work with students on the entire college or program application process. SSEF provides funds for application fees, as well as SAT/ACT fees for those students needing financial assistance.(iv) Link with a Leader This program is designed to provide targeted students with an opportunity to meet and learn about careers and post-secondary educational opportunities from members of the local business community. Community mentors share stories of their personal career and educational journeys, as well as present informational workshops focused on increasing college and career readiness. Program speakers impart the importance of getting a good education to students who would not otherwise hear this message. Counselors and graduation coaches identify the students participating in this program at Ridgeview Middle School, Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, North Springs High School, and Riverwood International Charter School.(v) Business Bridge SSEF works to engage members of the business community in the Sandy Springs public schools. SSEF assists members of Sandy Springss local business community in connecting with SSEFs students through various SSEF Programs such as SAIL/Senior Push, Link with a Leader, STEAM Grant After School Clubs, Teacher Supply Closet, After School All Stars, and the Aspire After-School Program. In addition, the community collaboration with Sandy Springss local businesses provides opportunities for SSEFs students to participate in career fairs, internships, business-sponsored workshops, and field trips such as SkillsUSA. (vi) Cradle to College In collaboration with Georgia State University-Perimeter College, fifth grade students from Dunwoody Springs Elementary land seventh grade students from Sandy Springs Charter Middle School learn about the opportunity for college in their own community and dual enrollment. The students take a field trip to the GSU Perimeter campus to meet professors and college students, tour the campus, and engage in classroom activities. (vii) Tutor Teams Virtual Tutoring Program Originally implemented to reduce student learning loss during the pandemic, the Virtual Tutoring Program is a vehicle for Riverwood and North Springs high school tutors and community tutors to work with students in grades 3-5 from Ison Springs Elementary. During the 45-minute virtual sessions each week, the tutor helps the student with homework, as well as math and reading skills. In addition to helping with academic content, tutors serve as mentors, form strong relationships with students, and help make the sessions each week fun as well as educational. (viii) High Demand Career Fair This single day event was implemented to expose Riverwood and North Springs High School students to careers that pay well and have many job opportunities with a focus on jobs that hire students right out of high school, provide on-the-job training and opportunities for advancement and/or allow the student to work and gain experience to help pay for college. Exhibitors include opportunities in Skilled Trades, Healthcare, Information Technology, Automotive and Childcare. This exposure inspires students to pursue careers that will take them out of the cycle of poverty without having to take on post-secondary debt. Through workshops, students prepare resumes prior to the Career Fair. Interested students are matched with community mentors after the Career Fair. LITERACY(ix) Reading Buddies This program is conducted at Ison Springs Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Spalding Drive Elementary, and Dunwoody Springs Elementary Schools. Teachers identify students in need of assistance with reading. Once per week, volunteers read to a chosen student for 30 minutes. Training, resources, and ongoing support are provided to volunteers. Suitable books are purchased by SSEF and kept on a cart for SSEF volunteers to read with their students. The objective of the program is to foster positive feelings about reading, thereby improving motivation, self-confidence, and reading skills, all centered on a meaningful relationship with a caring adult. (x) Mini-Libraries This program reaches out to at-risk students by providing them with access to high-quality books that they can read and keep. Portable, free-standing, newspaper-type dispensaries are in place at strategic locations at six Sandy Springs elementary schools. Books are also available at various locations for students at two Sandy Springs middle schools and two Sandy Springs high schools.
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 November 1993.
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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