Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Unity Schools

EIN 75-3107384 · Oakland, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREPARE ITS STUDENTS FOR ADMISSION TO AND SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND CAREER,AND TO BECOME HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

Income
$10.0 million
Spending
$9.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
84
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$190,055, principal, hs

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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 (2)
  1. $6.1 million spent. OPERATION OF OAKLAND UNITY HIGH SCHOOL (OUHS): A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORED BY OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 TO 12. ALL STUDENTS ARE OFFERED A CURRICULUM THAT ALLOWS EVERY GRADUATE TO MEET THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA A-GREQUIREMENTS. STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED ADVISORS FROM THE TEACHING STAFF WHO SERVE AS STUDENT AND FAMILY ADVOCATES AND MENTOR STUDENTS TOWARDS GRADUATION AND COLLEGE ADMISSION. LEARNING EXPERIENCES BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM ALLOW STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND BECOME CREATIVE CRITICAL THINKERS, COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS, AND EFFECTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN MULTICULTURAL DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
  2. $2.8 million spent. OPERATION OF OAKLAND UNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL (OUMS): A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORED BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION OFFERING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 TO 8. OUMS IS A SCHOOL WHERE ALL STUDENTS ACQUIRE THE CORE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND, ULTIMATELY, FOR SUCCESS IN TODAY'S GLOBAL, MULTICULTURAL AND MULTILINGUAL SOCIETY. OUMS PROVIDES A HIGH QUALITY COLLEGE PREPARATORY MIDDLE SCHOOL OPTION TO EAST OAKLAND FAMILIES WHOSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT WILL EFFECTIVELY PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN RIGOROUS HIGH SCHOOL CLASSWORK.

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 October 2003.

    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.