Palo Alto Partners in Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PALO ALTO PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (PIE) RAISES MONEY FROM PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ALL PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE BEYOND WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH PUBLIC FUNDING. PIE'S VOLUNTEERS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND THE COMMUNITY, WILL ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IN THE PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EXPERIENCES AN ENRICHED AND FULFILLING EDUCATION.
- Income
- $5.4 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 90
- Highest pay
- $178,567, executive director 7/1/24-6/30/25
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: 57 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 2530 of 30 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
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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)
- $5.0 million spent. PALO ALTO PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (PIE) REMAINS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO RAISING MONEY FOR ALL PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (PAUSD) SCHOOLS, AND THE ONLY ONE WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS CAN PAY FOR ADDITIONAL AND MUCH NEEDED PAUSD TEACHERS AND STAFF. DUE IN LARGE PART TO DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, PIE'S OPERATING EXPENSES CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY LOW, ALLOWING MORE THAN 92% OF DONATIONS TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOLS. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, PIE FUNDS: CLASSROOM SUPPORT: AIDES, ASSISTANTS, READING AND MATH SPECIALISTS AND TEACHER COACHES WHO SUPPORT AND ENRICH ALL STUDENTS LEARNING. SCIENCE ENRICHMENT: PROGRAMS AND SPECIALISTS WHO HELP SCIENCE COME ALIVE FOR STUDENTS THROUGH HANDS-ON UNITS. ARTS INSTRUCTION: TRAINED STAFF WHO TEACH SPECTRA ART AND COMPARABLE CREATIVE ARTS. IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, PIE FUNDS: ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT: ADDITIONAL COURSES AND CLASSROOM SUPPORT IN VIDEO PRODUCTION, CREATIVE WRITING, MUSIC AND BIOTECHNOLOGY. STUDENT SUPPORT: PROGRAMS WHICH ADDRESS 6TH AND 8TH GRADE TRANSITIONS; ACADEMIC GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT; AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY: MENTORS WHO ASSIST TEACHERS IN APPLYING TECHNOLOGY TO CURRICULUM THAT ENHANCES STUDENT LEARNING. IN HIGH SCHOOL, PIE FUNDS: COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING: STAFFING TO SUPPORT ADVISING AND RESOURCE PROGRAMS WHICH HELP ALL STUDENTS PLAN WISELY FOR THE FUTURE. CAREER/TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION: ADDITIONAL COURSES IN ENGINEERING, MEDIA TECHNOLOGY AND PERFORMING ARTS. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY: MENTORS WHO ASSIST TEACHERS IN APPLYING TECHNOLOGY TO CURRICULUM THAT ENHANCES STUDENT LEARNING.
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 November 6, 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 July 1988.
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 November 4, 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.