Northstar Tutoring
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Northstar Tutoring's mission is to provide free, one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to Washington, D.C. area students from families with low incomes to help them succeed in both their academic and personal lives.
- Income
- $251,101
- Spending
- $282,504
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 470
- Highest pay
- $119,167, 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (7)
- $46,025 spent. Mt. Pleasant Library: In 2024, Northstar provided free one-on-one tutoring for K-12 students at the Mt. Pleasant Library, with a focus on supporting students from low-income families in Washington, D.C., particularly in the Columbia Heights area. We held two tutoring sessions per week throughout the academic year and served approximately 50 students. A team of 110 volunteer tutors participated in this program, each paired with a student to provide weekly academic and mentoring support. Sessions focused on completing homework, preparing for tests and quizzes, and working through supplemental educational materials created by Northstar. Each volunteer contributed an estimated 40 hours over the course of the year.
- $32,739 spent. Hyattsville: At our Hyattsville site, Northstar served 85 K-12 students in 2024, with the support of 130 volunteer tutors. We offered three 90-minute tutoring sessions per week during the school year and a five-week summer program with two sessions per week. Students were matched with individual tutors for consistent, one-on-one support. Tutoring sessions focused on homework help as well as individualized subject based instruction. Northstar developed tailored supplemental materials aligned with each student's academic goals, which were informed by school grades, standardized test scores, and assessment data. Tutors contributed an estimated 67.5 hours each over the year (1.5 hours per week for 45 weeks).
- $43,262 spent. Rita Bright: Northstar's long-standing partnership with the Rita Bright Center continued in 2024, serving approximately 70 K-8th grade students through twice-weekly tutoring sessions. These 90-minute sessions were held in the evenings during the academic year and focused on targeted support in math and reading. Students worked one-on-one with tutors using high-impact tutoring curriculum aligned to grade-level standards. In total, 120 tutors participated at this site. During the January-May portion of the school year, volunteers each contributed an estimated 27 hours (1.5 hours per week for 18 weeks).
- $24,425 spent. Sasha Bruce: 2024 marked the launch of a new partnership between Northstar and Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a program focused on reentry support for formerly incarcerated youth. We served 25 students through a flexible tutoring model that allowed them to sign up for one to three 90-minute sessions per week, either in person or online. Tutoring support focused on completing school assignments, subject-specific tutoring, and GED preparation. A total of 30 tutors supported this program, providing both academic guidance and mentorship. Each volunteer contributed an estimated 15 hours from October to December (1.5 hours per week for 10 weeks).
- $37,943 spent. Center City: Northstar partnered for the first time with Center City Public Charter School's Shaw campus in 2024. We offered two one-hour sessions per week for K-8th grade students during the school year. Each student was matched with a volunteer tutor for one-on-one support focused on math and reading. Sessions followed structured curriculum and instructional materials. Each volunteer contributed an estimated 10 hours from October to December (1 hour per week for 10 weeks).
- $24,465 spent. Hyattsville Middle: In late 2024, Northstar began preparations for a new tutoring and mentoring program at Hyattsville Middle School, which officially launched in early 2025. Advance costs included outreach to potential tutors, conducting interviews and background checks, and planning individualized instruction based on student needs. Staff also worked closely with school administrators to align scheduling, space, and academic goals. The program was designed to support up to 45 students with two personalized tutoring sessions per week focused on math and reading.
- $22,584 spent. Oxon Hill: During the fall of 2024, Northstar prepared for the launch of its Oxon Hill tutoring program in February 2025. These expenses were related to tutor recruitment, interviews, and background checks, as well as staff time spent developing curriculum plans and coordinating logistics with the school site. The program was designed to serve up to 45 students with twice-weekly, one-on-one tutoring sessions in reading and math.
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 November 2019.
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.
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.