Schoolhouse Connection
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SCHOOLHOUSE CONNECTION IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING TO OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS THROUGH EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION. WE PROVIDE STRATEGIC ADVOCACY AND PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS, SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SERVICE PROVIDERS, FAMILIES, AND YOUTH. WE BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE ONLY PERMANENT SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS. OUR VISION IS THAT CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE FULL ACCESS TO QUALITY LEARNING, BIRTH THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION, SO THEY WILL NEVER BE HOMELESS AS ADULTS, AND THE NEXT GENERATION WILL NEVER BE HOMELESS.
- Income
- $5.5 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 5.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $229,275, 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 32% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 49% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 259 of 9 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 (4)
- $1.6 million spent. PREK-12PROGRAM GOAL: ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE IDENTIFIED AND ENROLLED IN SCHOOL (AND IN PRESCHOOL WHERE AVAILABLE), ATTEND REGULARLY, ARE PROFICIENT OR ABOVE IN 3RD GRADE READING, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON PAR WITH NON-HOMELESS STUDENTS, AND ARE INFORMED ABOUT AND PREPARED TO PURSUE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: IN 2024, SHC HELPED STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES EFFECTIVELY USE NEARLY $325 MILLION IN PANDEMIC RECOVERY FUNDS IN NEW WAYS TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE AND SUCCESS FOR OVER ONE MILLION STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SHC ALSO RELEASED "OVERLOOKED AND ALMOST OUT OF TIME," A REPORT SHOWING THE IMPACT AND REACH OF PANDEMIC-ERA RELIEF FUNDS FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES THAT PREVENTED SCHOOLS FROM USING THESE FUNDS AT A TIME OF HEIGHTENED NEED. SHC LAUNCHED A NEW PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH ATTENDANCE WORKS TO REDUCE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AMONG STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SHC CREATED MANY NEW PRACTICAL TOOLS TO HELP EDUCATORS IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING A NEW RESOURCE HUB FOR NEW AND SEASONED MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS LIAISONS.
- $491,368 spent. EARLY CHILDHOODPROGRAM GOAL: ALL YOUNG CHILDREN AND EXPECTANT PARENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS (PRENATAL TO AGE SIX) ARE IDENTIFIED, ENROLLED, AND PARTICIPATE IN HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS. YOUNG CHILDREN MEET DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN.PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: IN 2024, SHC PUBLISHED THE FIRST-EVER 50-STATE REPORT ON INFANT AND TODDLER HOMELESSNESS, DOCUMENTING THAT OF THE 364,000 INFANTS AND TODDLERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ONLY 11% ARE ENROLLED IN A HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. SHC ALSO PUBLISHED THREE CASE STUDIES OF ORGANIZATIONS IN ILLINOIS, TEXAS, AND MASSACHUSETTS, AND PRESENTED A NATIONAL WEBINAR TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR STRATEGIES FOR SERVING INFANTS AND TODDLERS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. SHC CONTINUED REFINING A REFERRAL APP THAT BRIDGES K-12 AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS TO ENSURE YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE REFERRED TO HEAD START AND OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. SHC PARTNERED WITH 13 STATES TO INCREASE THE IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.
- $266,889 spent. ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICYPROGRAM GOAL: TO OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS THROUGH EDUCATION, WE MUST REFORM THE SYSTEMS THAT IMPACT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING, OR AT RISK OF, HOMELESSNESS.PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: IN 2024, SHC HELPED LOCAL AND STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES MAKE THE MOST OF PANDEMIC-ERA FUNDING TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, LEADING TO REDUCTIONS IN CHRONIC ABSENCE AND IMPROVED ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. AS A RESULT OF A RECENT CLARIFICATION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED) FOR WHICH WE ADVOCATED, ALL OF THE ALLOWABLE USES OF ARP-HCY (PANDEMIC-EDUCATION FUNDS) FUNDS ALSO WILL BE ALLOWABLE WITH ANNUAL EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH (EHCY) FUNDS. SHC SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR A CORRECTION TO A SCREEN ON THE 2025-2026 FAFSA THAT HAD BEEN A BARRIER TO FINANCIAL AID FOR UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH AND FOR UPDATED FEDERAL GUIDANCE ON HOMELESS YOUTH AND THE FAFSA. SHC ASSISTED EDUCATORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HELP HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH COMPLETE THE 2024-2025 FAFSA. SHC HELPED TO INFORM A NEW JOB CORPS POLICY THAT REMOVES BARRIERS TO THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND GALVANIZED SUPPORT FOR DISASTER RELIEF FOR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANES AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS.
- $703,642 spent. STATE POLICYPROGRAM GOAL: TO REFORM STATE LAWS AND POLICIES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, DRIVEN BY YOUNG PEOPLE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.UPDATED PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: IN 2024, SHC ADVANCED POLICY REFORMS IN MULTIPLE LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE U.S. TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, VITAL DOCUMENTS, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE AND RELATED SUPPORTS FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE MOST IMPACTFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD WERE: A) FIVE STATE POLICY REFORMS TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, VITAL DOCUMENTS AND HOUSING FOR AT LEAST 39,340 HOMELESS YOUTH AND ADULTS IN THREE STATES; B) PARTNERSHIP IN ADVOCACY WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LEGISLATORS IN THREE STATES (PA, IN, CA) TO ADVANCE REFORMS ADDRESSING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS, AND D) EXPANSION OF SHC'S ADVOCACY NETWORK TO MORE THAN 310 MEMBERS IN 43 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. HIGHER EDUCATIONPROGRAM GOAL: YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO WISH TO PURSUE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION ENROLL IN POSTSECONDARY, AND OBTAIN A POSTSECONDARY CREDENTIAL. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: IN 2024, SHC ASSISTED YOUTH, EDUCATORS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGING ROLL-OUT OF THE 2024-2025 FAFSA. THIS INCLUDED: A) 4 NEW FAFSA RESOURCES AND UPDATES TO 16 EXISTING RESOURCES, INCLUDING A VIDEO DEMONSTRATION FOR YOUTH ON HOW TO FILL OUT THE FAFSA; B) 27 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS AT LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES, INCLUDING A STANDING-ROOM ONLY SESSION AT THE NASFAA CONFERENCE. SHC DIRECTLY ASSISTED MORE THAN 50 YOUNG PEOPLE AND/OR THEIR ADVOCATES WHO REACHED OUT FOR HELP WITH THE FAFSA OR WITH ACCESSING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION. SHC JOINED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ECMC'S FAFSA SUPPORT STRATEGY TO BOOST 2024-2025 FAFSA COMPLETION THROUGH A TARGETED SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 18-24 AND YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS. SHC INFORMED AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 2025-2026 FAFSA. SHC SUPPORTED HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS IN 24 STATES THROUGH A HOMELESS HIGHER EDUCATION LIAISON LEARNING NETWORK.YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMPROGRAM GOALS: TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE, LASTING SUPPORT TO SCHOLARS, HELPING THEM SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE WITH MINIMAL DEBT, DELAYS, AND BARRIERS. WE AIM TO CONSISTENTLY ELEVATE SCHOLARS' VOICES TO DRIVE PROGRAM INNOVATION AND ADVOCATE FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE.PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: SHC'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP & SCHOLARSHIPS (YLS) PROGRAM PROVIDES A SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, COLLEGE COMPLETION RESOURCES TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS, ONE-ON-ONE HELP NAVIGATING COLLEGE AND LIFE, AND A STABLE PEER AND ADULT SUPPORT NETWORK. IN 2023, SHC HOSTED THREE IN-PERSON TRIPS FOR ITS SCHOLARS: A FIRST-YEAR AWARD CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE NEWEST COHORT OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, A SECOND-YEAR SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON DC WHERE STUDENTS EDUCATED FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS ON BARRIERS TO EDUCATION CREATED BY HOMELESSNESS, AND A THIRD-YEAR RETREAT FOR SCHOLARS TRANSITIONING INTO THE WORKFORCE. SHC ALSO CREATED OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARS TO ELEVATE CRITICAL ISSUES, SHARE THEIR STORIES TO DRIVE CHANGE, AND COLLABORATE WITH POLICYMAKERS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN 2024, THIS INCLUDED A STUDENT-LED PANEL AT THE 2024 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT.
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 April 2017.
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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