Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS "...TO ASSIST ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE."
- Income
- $417,050
- Spending
- $257,929
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 103.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 65
- Highest pay
- $40,992, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 103.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 38% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $230,952 spent. SCHOLARSSARATOGA SPONSOR-A-SCHOLAR SELECTS STUDENTS MOTIVATED TO ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY WHO COULD USE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND DIRECTION TO MEET THEIR GOALS. ELIGIBLE STUDENTS MUST HAVE A B/C AVERAGE, DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION AND BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED. STUDENTS ARE NOMINATED BY GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND TEACHERS IN THE NINTH GRADE AND SELECTED BY A RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT INCLUDES AN APPLICATION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN INTERVIEW WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. MANY STUDENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM FROM SOPHOMORE YEAR THROUGH COLLEGE GRADUATION.ACADEMIC SUPPORTSTUDENTS ENROLLED IN SARATOGA SPONSOR-A-SCHOLAR ATTEND SARATOGA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL. TWO ACADEMIC COORDINATORS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT OVERSEE THE ENROLLMENT AND APPLICATION PROCESS. TUTORS AT HOMEWORK SESSIONS ARE CLASSROOM TEACHERS FROM EACH MAJOR SUBJECT AREA OR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD. SPONSOR-A-SCHOLAR ALSO ENCOURAGES AND PROVIDES FUNDING FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES AND PSAT/SAT TRAINING. SPONSORS AND DONORSTO PAY FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF THE STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAM, SSAS ENLISTS A COMBINATION OF INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION OR CORPORATE SPONSORS EACH YEAR. SPONSORSHIP OF A SINGLE STUDENT IN THE PROGRAM IS $10,000, $4,000 OF WHICH PROVIDES ACADEMIC TUTORING AND COLLEGE PREPARATORY WORK DURING HIGH SCHOOL. SSAS PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH ANNUAL CASH STIPENDS OF $2,500 FOR EVERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF COLLEGE THEY COMPLETE. SOME INDIVIDUALS SPONSOR MULTIPLE STUDENTS WHILE OTHERS TEAM UP TO CO-SPONSOR A SINGLE STUDENT. DONORS MAY MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION IN ANY AMOUNT. MENTORSEACH SCHOLAR IS MATCHED WITH AN ADULT MENTOR WHEN THEY BEGIN THE PROGRAM. PREREQUISITES FOR BECOMING A MENTOR INCLUDE A COLLEGE DEGREE, MAKING A COMMITMENT TO MEET AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THREE YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE. MENTORS SERVE AS AN ADULT ROLE MODEL AND ALSO HELP STUDENTS IDENTIFY COLLEGE RESOURCES. THE MENTOR/STUDENT RELATIONSHIP SERVES AS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF SUPPORT TO SCHOLARS SEEKING A SEASONED PERSPECTIVE AND AN ACTIVE LISTENER.COMMUNITYTHE MISSION OF THE SARATOGA SPONSOR-A-SCHOLAR PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BY OFFERING SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF TIME, MENTORS AND MONEY. THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. HOWEVER, OUR HOPE IS ALSO THAT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM SPONSOR-A-SCHOLAR STUDENTS RETURNING WITH COLLEGE DEGREES TO WORK AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.UP TO APPROXIMATELY 70 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SSAS PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 September 2002.
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.