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Sycamore Creek Community Charter School

EIN 81-3392907 · Fountain Vly, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO DEVELOP STUDENTS' CAPACITIES WITH A PEDAGOGY BASED ON THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC WALDORF EDUCATION THAT FOSTERS INDEPENDENT THINKING, A WILLINGNESS TO FACE CHALLENGES, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE WORLD AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-40.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
24
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$131,394, 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: 36 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 98% 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

    88% 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $2.1 million spent. SYCAMORE CREEK COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL (SCCCS) OPERATES A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES DESIRING A PUBLIC WALDORF EDUCATION RECOGNIZED BY A FOCUS ON A "WHOLE-CHILD" PHILOSOPHY. SCCCS FIRST BEGAN CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER 2019 FOR STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN (TK) TO GRADE 6. THE CHARTER SCHOOL HAS GROWN TO OFFER GRADES TK TO 8. SCCCS IS AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE ITS CHARTER SCHOOL THROUGH AN APPROVED CHARTER PETITION WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
  2. $647,764 spent. IN JULY 2024, THE ORGANIZATION FORMED THE SCCCS FACILITIES LLC. THE LLC SERVES AS A PROPERTY HOLDING COMPANY FOR CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ITS RELATED DEBT. IN NOVEMBER 2024, THE LLC ENTERED INTO A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE AUTHORITY (CSFA) FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $33,040,000 CHARTER SCHOOL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES A AND $640,000 CHARTER SCHOOL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES B. THE FUNDS WERE USED TO ACQUIRE, CONSTRUCT, IMPROVE, FURNISH, AND EQUIP THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AT 4321 WEST CERRITOS AVENUE IN CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2019.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 July 2020.

    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 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.