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Holdsworth Center

EIN 81-4254457 · Austin, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO IMPACT, OVER TIME, THE QUALITY OF PRE-K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL TEXAS STUDENTS BY SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL LEADERS.

Income
$40.2 million
Spending
$34.4 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
19.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
91
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$484,560, director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 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 May 31, 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)
  1. $27.3 million spent. THE HOLDSWORTH PARTNERSHIP IS A MULTI-YEAR INVESTMENT DESIGNED TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS GROW A STRONG BENCH OF OUTSTANDING LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS - WITH A FOCUS ON SITTING AND ASPIRING PRINCIPALS. THE PARTNERSHIP BEGINS WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEIR TEAM EMBARK ON A TWO-YEAR JOURNEY THAT INCLUDES LEARNING SESSIONS WITH SOME OF THE NATION'S TOP LEADERSHIP EXPERTS, INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FROM THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPERT PROGRAM TEAM, AND STUDY OF HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS IN AND OUTSIDE THE EDUCATION SECTOR. EXECUTIVE COACHING IS INTEGRAL TO REINFORCE ON-THE-JOB APPLICATION OF LEARNING AND TO SUPPORT CRUCIAL ISSUES IMPACTING THEIR DISTRICT. A CORNERSTONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MODEL, ITS DISTRICT SUPPORT TEAM EMBEDS IN PARTNER DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, WORKING TOGETHER WITH CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PRINCIPAL PIPELINE. IN YEAR TWO OF THE PARTNERSHIP, THE CAMPUS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM BEGINS. COHORTS OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND THEIR TEAMS TAKE A TWO-YEAR LEARNING JOURNEY SIMILAR TO DISTRICT LEADERS. PRINCIPALS ALSO RECEIVE EXECUTIVE COACHING TO HELP THEM SET AND REACH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT GOALS. CAMPUS TEAMS ALSO TACKLE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TIED TO SCHOOL CULTURE AND STUDENT OUTCOMES. ROLLED OUT IN FOUR PHASES, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF CAMPUSES IN EACH PARTNER DISTRICT OVER THE COURSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP. THE HOLDSWORTH LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE IS AN 18-MONTH PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP DISTRICT LEADERS BUILD A STRONG BENCH OF ASPIRING PRINCIPALS WHO ARE READY TO STEP INTO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHEN THEY ARISE. A TEAM OF THREE, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TWO DISTRICT LEADERS, WORK WITH HOLDSWORTH STAFF TO DEFINE WHAT GREAT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE IN THEIR DISTRICT AND TO DESIGN SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES TO SUSTAIN THEIR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PIPELINE. THE SUPERINTENDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS AN 18-MONTH PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS SUPERINTENDENTS AS THEY NAVIGATE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES WHILE SERVING IN A ROLE THAT IMPACTS EDUCATIONAL QUALITY FOR SCORES OF TEXAS STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DEVELOPMENT IN THE MOST CHALLENGING, HIGH-STAKES AND HIGH-LEVERAGE ASPECTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM A NETWORK OF PEERS AND EXECUTIVE COACHING FROM HOLDSWORTH'S SUPERINTENDENTS-IN-RESIDENCE. THE ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENT ACCELERATOR IS A YEARLONG PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENTS DESIGNED TO HELP THEM MASTER THE SKILLS NEEDED TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL SUPERINTENDENT FROM DAY ONE. ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENT INSIGHTS IS A TWO-DAY EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO GIVE LEADERS INSIGHT INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT ROLE AND THEIR OWN STRENGTHS AND AREAS OF GROWTH AS THEY CONSIDER PURSUING THE POSITION. THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD INSTITUTE IS A THREE-DAY INSTITUTE THAT OFFERS LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO SUPERINTENDENTS AND THEIR NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEES.THE HOLDSWORTH CENTER'S CAMPUS ON LAKE AUSTIN SERVES AS A PERMANENT HOME FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP AS LEADERS, A PLACE THEY WILL RETURN TO TIME AND AGAIN TO GROW, LEARN, COLLABORATE, REFLECT AND GATHER INSPIRATION TO TAKE BACK TO THEIR DISTRICTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 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 May 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 June 2017.

    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.