Richmond Promise Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 83 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BY REMOVING BARRIERS AND CREATING PATHWAYS TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS IN RICHMOND HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, EXCEL FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ATTAIN A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE OR CERTIFICATION, (CONTINUED ON SCH. O)THRIVE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE, AND BECOME A LEADER OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $4.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 66.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 59%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 35
- Highest pay
- $185,711, 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
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 66.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 223% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 83 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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 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)
- $3.3 million spent. LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2016, THE RICHMOND PROMISE IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE COLLEGE SUCCESS INITIATIVE TO BUILD A COLLEGE GRADUATING CULTURE IN RICHMOND, CA. THE RICHMOND PROMISE WAS CREATED WITH THE BELIEF THAT ALL RICHMOND STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCOME LEVEL, OR PERSONAL BACKGROUND. WE SEE A DAY WHEN ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN RICHMOND HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, EXCEL FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO HIGHER EDUCATION, ATTAIN A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE OR CERTIFICATION, THRIVE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE, AND BECOME A LEADER OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD. THROUGH A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, COLLABORATIVE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS, AND SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMMING, (CONTINUED ON SCH O )THE RICHMOND PROMISE AIMS TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS IN RICHMOND EXCEL TO AND THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS, AND BECOME CHANGE-MAKING LEADERS IN THE RICHMOND COMMUNITY. THE RICHMOND PROMISE INVESTS DIRECTLY IN OUR STUDENTS' FUTURES THROUGH THE RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP. EACH YEAR THEY ARE ENROLLED AT ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 4-YEAR COLLEGE OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE US, SCHOLARS RECEIVE $1,500, RENEWABLE FOR 4 YEARS. WE STRIVE TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS IN RICHMOND TO REACH THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS, WHICH IS WHY ANY RICHMOND STUDENT GRADUATING FROM AN ELIGIBLE HIGH SCHOOL CAN ACCESS THE SCHOLARSHIP.WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF RICHMOND, CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LOCAL BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS AT THREE KEY MOMENTUM POINTS THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER-PRE-COLLEGE: DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE FOCUS ON BUILDING COLLEGE AWARENESS. WE HIRE CURRENT RICHMOND PROMISE COLLEGE SCHOLARS TO TALK WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AN EFFORT TO PUT THEM ON THE PATH TO COLLEGE AT THIS PIVOTAL AGE. THIS NEAR-PEER MODEL CONNECTS MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO SHARE THE SAME IDENTITIES. THIS SHARED PERSPECTIVE CREATES AN IMMEDIATE TRUST THAT LEADS TO REAL IMPACT.-HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE TRANSITION: IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, WE FOCUS ON ENSURING COLLEGE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE - IN THE CLASSROOM. - TO WORK ON FINANCIAL AID COMPLETION AND THE RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION. OUR SCHOLARSHIP OF $1500 A YEAR CAN BE USED AT ANY NOT-FOR-PROFIT 2-YEAR OR 4-YEAR SCHOOL OR CTE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SCHOLARSHIP CAN BE USED TOWARDS THE FULL COST OF ATTENDANCE - INCLUDING TUITION, HOUSING, BOOKS, AND TRANSPORTATION. WE PROVIDE SUMMER SUCCESS WORKSHOPS THROUGH WHICH OUR SCHOLARS LEARN ABOUT HOW TO SUCCEED IN THEIR FIRST YEARS AT SCHOOL.-FIRST YEAR THROUGH COLLEGE SUCCESS: AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, OUR FOCUS IS ON ACHIEVING A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE, AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH THE RESOURCES, NETWORKS, AND MENTORS TO THRIVE IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE. WE BUILD FORMAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH COLLEGES, INCLUDING CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE AND BERKELEY CITY COLLEGE, TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AT THE INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL. WE ALSO OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING TO OUR MOST AT-RISK STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE LEVERAGE THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY TO PAIR SCHOLARS WITH RICHMOND MENTORS TO START PREPARING FOR THEIR CAREERS.2024 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:* WELCOMED 498 NEW SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2024*4205 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDING IN 2016*IN THE FINAL YEAR OF A JOINT-GRANT FROM THE CITY OF RICHMOND DEPARMENT OF CHILDREN & YOUTH, COLLABORATED WITH HEALTH CAREER CONNECTION (HCC) TO PLACE 10 STUDENTS INTO PAID PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIPS IN RICHMOND. PARTICIPANTS SERVED FOR 10 WEEKS AND PROVIDED SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LIFELONG MEDICAL CARE CENTER, HEALTHY CONTRA COSTA AND ROTACARE CLINIC. OVERALL, 27 RP SCHOLARS WERE PLACED IN HCC INTERNSHIPS FOR THIS GRANT, AND SEVERAL OTHERS PARTICIPATED IN OTHER HCC PROGRAMMING AS A RESULT OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.*A FURTHER 55 COMPUTERS WERE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WHO NEEDED THEM. OVERALL, RICHMOND PROMISE HAS PROVIDED OVER 200 STUDENTS WITH LAPTOPS SINCE 2020.*IN ADDITION TO WEEKLY IN-CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING AND OFFICE HOURS HOSTED AT MULTIPLE WCCUSD SITES, RICHMOND PROMISE'S COLLEGE ACCESS STAFF PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST A NUMBER OF COLLEGE AWARENESS AND FINANCIAL AID-RELATED EVENTS THROUGHOUT 2024. THESE EVENTS PROVIDED DEDICATED SPACE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS, ASK QUESTIONS AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM RP STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS. * 12 "CASH FOR COLLEGE" WORKSHOPS * 2 PARENT & FAMILY FINANCIAL AID ID NIGHTS * 10 RP SCHOLARSHIP INFO SESSIONS * 13 COLLEGE & CAREER EVENTS*RICHMOND PROMISE SCHOLARS WHO GRADUATED FROM UC BERKELE IN 2024 GOT A CHANCE TO MEET AND SPEND TIME WITH DALLAS MAVERICKS CEO AND RICHMOND NATIVE CYNT MARSHALL. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE CAMERON INSTITUTE AND CAL ATHLETICS, RICHMOND PROMISE STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS HOSTED A RECEPTION FOR SCHOLARS THAT FOLLOWED THE MAIN UC BERKELEY COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT WHICH MARSHALL WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER. GRADUATES GOT TO CHAT WITH MARSHALL, RECEIVED COPIES OF HER BOOK, YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN, AND CELEBRATED A MOMENTOUS DAY ALONGSIDE THEIR FELLOW RICHMOND GRADUATES.*AS PART OF THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL CONVENING IN KNOXVILLE, TENN,. RICHMOND PROMISE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WHITMORE WAS NAMED AS ONE OF SIX APPOINTEES TO THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. IN ANNOUNCING THE COUNCIL, COLLEGE PROMISE CEO DR. MARTHA KANTER SAID "THE COLLEGE PROMISE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL REPRESENTS THE BEST OF WHAT THE COLLEGE PROMISE MOVEMENT STANDS FOR DEDICATED LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO GREATER ACCESS AND SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR ALL. THEIR EXPERIENCE AND VISION WILL GUIDE US AS WE EXPAND AND ENHANCE COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE."
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 October 2016.
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.
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