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Colorado Springs Christian Schools

EIN 74-2477359 · Colorado Spgs, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

COLORADO SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (CSCS) IS A COLORADO NONPROFIT CORPORATION WHICH EXISTS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FROM A BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE FOR LIFELONG SERVICE CSCS WAS FOUNDED IN 1971...SEE CONTINUATION ON SCH O

Income
$9.7 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-7.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
268
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$164,285, superintendent

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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 76% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 9 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (6)
  1. $3.0 million spent. PROVIDED CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 394 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER DISCOUNTS WERE GIVEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $361,077 TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS HAVE BEEN NETTED WITHIN PROGRAM REVENUE, AS REPORTED WITHIN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN REPORTED NETTED WITH TUITION REVENUE ON 990 PART VIII, LINE 2A, RECONCILING TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. IN PRIOR YEAR FORM 990S, SCHOLARSHIPS WERE SEPARATELY REPORTED ON 990 PART IX, LINE 2, AS GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS. THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN FOR EACH PROGRAM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITHIN THE NARRATIVE PORTION OF 990 PART III, LINE 4. AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION (FAST) ACCEPTS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS FROM CSCS FAMILIES AND DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE THEN FORWARDED TO CSCS AND A SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE USES THIS INFORMATION TO AWARD ASSISTANCE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
  2. $2.2 million spent. PROVIDED CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 240 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER DISCOUNTS WERE GIVEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $201,226 TO MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS HAVE BEEN NETTED WITHIN PROGRAM REVENUE, AS REPORTED WITHIN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
  3. $2.7 million spent. PROVIDED CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 263 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER DICUOUNTS WERE GIVEN IN THE AMOUNT OF $265,792 TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS HAVE BEEN NETTED WITHIN PROGRAM REVENUE, AS REPORTED WITHIN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN REPORTED NETTED WITH TUITION REVENUE ON 990 PART VIII, LINE 2A, RECONCILING TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. IN PRIOR YEAR FORM 990S, SCHOLARSHIPS WERE SEPARATELY REPORTED ON 990 PART IX, LINE 2, AS GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS. THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS GIVEN FOR EACH PROGRAM HAS BEEN REPORTED WITHIN THE NARRATIVE PORTION OF 990 PART III, LINE 4. AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION (FAST) ACCEPTS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS FROM CSCS FAMILIES AND DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE THEN FORWARDED TO CSCS AND A SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE USES THIS INFORMATION TO AWARD ASSISTANCE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
  4. $99,249 spent. LIONS ONLINE (21 Students)
  5. $49,808 spent. STEAM ClUB
  6. Provided Christian education to approximately 21 Lions Online students. Discounts were given in the amount of $9,570 to Lions Online students. The discounts have been netted within program revenue, as reported within the audited financial statements. Provided after-school care to approximately 59 students in the STEAM Club program.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.