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Equality Charter School

EIN 80-0338050 · Bronx, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENSURE EACH SCHOLAR REACHES INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL SUCCESS THROUGH A NURTURING SCHOLAR-CENTERED APPROACH.

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$24.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
193
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$341,625, executive director

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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 54% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (2)
  1. $14.1 million spent. GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: EQUALITY'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM IS WELL ALIGNED WITH THE RESEARCH OF DOUGLAS REEVES, WHO HIGHLIGHTS 90/90/90 SCHOOLS: 90% OF THE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, 90% OF THE STUDENTS ARE MEMBERS OF AN ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP, AND 90% OF THESE STUDENTS ARE AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL IN READING OR ANOTHER AREA AS MEASURED BY DISTRICT OR STATE ASSESSMENTS. HE NOTES THAT IN THESE SCHOOLS, THERE ARE FIVE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS: A FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, CLEAR CURRICULUM CHOICES, FREQUENT ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT PROGRESS AND MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AN EMPHASIS ON NON-FICTION WRITING, AND COLLABORATIVE SCORING OF STUDENT WORK. THE UNDERLYING FOUNDATION OF EQUALITY'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOCUSES ON REEVE'S RESEARCH WITH SOME ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS: 1) HIGH EXPECTATIONS; 2) POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE; 3) CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT WITH NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS; 4) DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS; 5) INCLUSIVE EDUCATION; 6) EMPHASIS ON WRITING; 7) COLLABORATION; 8) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT; 9) LIFE ACTION PLANS, INCLUDING POST-SECONDARY PLANNING AND OPTIONS; AND 10) ADVISORIES. EQUALITY ALSO PROVIDES OUR SCHOLARS AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS INCLUDING FILM CLUB, DANCE TEAM, DEBATE TEAM, SPELLING BEE CLUB, BOOK CLUB, MATHLETES CLUB, AND ANIME CLUB. EQUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL HOSTS SEVERAL SPORTS TEAMS: TRACK, TWO BASKETBALL TEAMS, FLAG FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL AND BASEBALL.
  2. $7.4 million spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: EQUALITY WILL PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATION SETTING FOR OUR SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. OUR TEAM MEMBERS HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CREATING POSITIVE, RIGOROUS, INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS THAT PROVIDE SOCIALLY AND ACADEMICALLY BENEFICIAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS. OUR DAILY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, DATA EMPHASIS, PBIS, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WILL SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL INCLUSION AND HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. WHILE MANY SCHOOLS HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATIONS OF ROUGHLY 10%, EQUALITY HAS A POPULATION THAT COMPRISES OVER 20% OF THE STUDENT BODY. EQUALITY'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM IS FULLY INCLUSIVE AND CO-TAUGHT. WE PROVIDE THIS MODEL TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS INCLUDING THE 21% WHO HAVE DISABILITIES. OUR PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ELECTIVES IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ART AND LIFE & LITERACY.

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 March 2011.

    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.