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Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Education Fund

EIN 62-1356764 · Chattanooga, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHING, STRONG LEADERSHIP, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT CHILDREN SUCCEED IN LEARNING AND IN LIFE.

Income
$3.3 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
59
Volunteers
72
Highest pay
$302,578, president

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

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 88% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

    12 of 12 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 (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. PROJECT INSPIRE - PROJECT INSPIRE IS A RIGOROUS TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM THAT BLENDS GRADUATE LEVEL COURSE WORK WITH A CLASSROOM APPRENTICESHIP AND ONE-ON-ONE COACHING WITH A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHER IN A HIGH-NEEDS CLASSROOM. OUR RESIDENTS COME FROM VARIOUS BACKGROUNDS WITH A FOCUS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATH. OUR TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAMS PROVIDE PRACTICAL LEARNING, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, AND A SUPPORT NETWORK TEACHERS NEED TO BE SUCESSFUL.
  2. $631,482 spent. GATEWAY SCHOLARS (CAMS) - GATEWAY SCHOLARS IS A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT PAIRS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT MENTORS (CAMS) WHO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS TO AND THROUGH COLLEGE SUCCESS. CAMS PROVIDE TAILORED SERVICES TO STUDENTS AS THEY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, PROMOTING SELF-ADVOCACY, A GROWTH MINDSET, AND ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
  3. $1.9 million spent. VW ELABS - THE VW ELABS PROGRAM HAS PLACED HIGH-TECH LEARNING LABS IN 35 HAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOLS TO DATE. THESE LABS PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING CURRICULA.
  4. $1.2 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - STEP-UP, BLUE SKY, STEM, INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR, CAMP COLLEGE AND OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

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? 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 January 1989.

    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.