Durham Public Schools Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CATALYZE BIG IDEAS AND FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL ACCELERATE THE TRANSFORMATION OF DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ENSURE SUCCESS AND EQUITY FOR EVERY STUDENT.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $2.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 500
- Highest pay
- $122,300, executive director (thru may 2025)
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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 17 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 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 (3)
- $1.5 million spent. COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS:GRANTMAKINGSCHOOL-LEVEL GRANTS: THE DPSF GRANTS PROGRAM AIMED TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, COLLABORATION, SUSTAINABLE IMPACT, AND THE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND RESOURCES FOR DPS STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES. THROUGH THE COHORT MODEL, THE ANNUAL GRANTS CYCLE COMPRISED TWO PROGRAMS: INNOVATION GRANTS AND THE WHOLE SCHOOLS FUND. AVAILABLE IN THE FALL, INNOVATION GRANTS WERE OPEN ONLY TO DPS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, AND/OR CAREGIVERS FOR PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY CENTERED AND IMPACTED THEIR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. INNOVATION GRANTS FUNDED PROJECTS FOCUSED ON INCREASING EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN DPS SCHOOLS. THIS YEAR, WE FUNDED $85,900 ACROSS 18 SCHOOLS, SUPPORTING 14 PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORTED OVER $21,074 IN PROJECTS ACROSS DPS THROUGH GENERAL REQUESTS TO SUPPORT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.DPSF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND: THIS YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER $13,500 DIRECTLY TO SCHOOL FAMILIES IN NEED OF EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDED SUPPORT TO PREVENT EVICTION, PROVIDE EMERGENCY UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND COVER ESSENTIAL NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, OVER $2,000 WAS AWARDED DIRECTLY TO MCKINNEY-VENTO WITHIN DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.WHOLE MENTAL HEALTH: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DPS AND DUKE HEALTH, WHOLE SCHOOLS UPLIFTED FEELINGS OF SAFETY, SUPPORT, AND BELONGING AS ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS FOR LEARNING. THIS YEAR, WE REACHED 25 SCHOOLS AND FUNDED 22 PROJECTS. AT OUR MODEL SCHOOLS, NEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SOUTHERN SCHOOL OF ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY, WE SUPPORTED OVER 2,200 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS 250 STAFF MEMBERS.SIXTEEN DPS EDUCATORS ACROSS 10 SCHOOLS WERE TRAINED AS MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS. THEY LEARNED VALUABLE SKILLS, INCLUDING HOW TO BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPOND TO EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. WE ALSO INCREASED COMMUNITY MEMBERS' ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES BY DEVELOPING A THRIVE GUIDE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THAT PROMOTED MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY, WELLNESS PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES, AND A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF SUPPORT PATHWAYS.THE WHOLE SCHOOLS FUND PROVIDED INTEGRATED SUPPORT, COLLABORATION, AND PEER-BASED LEARNING TO GRANT RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND CAREGIVERS. DPSF STAFF PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTEES TO MEET AS A COHORT TO ENGAGE IN TOPICS RELATED TO THEIR WORK, CHECK IN, NETWORK, AND SHARE PROGRESS UPDATES AND/OR BARRIERS THEY WERE ENCOUNTERING. FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, $82,500 WAS AWARDED TO FUND 22 PROJECTS ACROSS 25 SCHOOLS. GRANT AWARDS RANGED FROM $1,000 TO A MAXIMUM OF $15,000 PER FUNDED PROJECT.CRAYONS TO CALCULATORS: IN JANUARY, WE WELCOMED DURHAM NONPROFIT CRAYONS2CALCULATORS (C2C) AS A NEW DPSF PROGRAM. TOGETHER, WE PROVIDED EDUCATORS WITH A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND RESOURCES. APPROXIMATELY 93% OF CLASSROOM EDUCATORS ACROSS ALL DISCIPLINES RECEIVED MORE THAN $105,000 WORTH OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES THIS YEAR. C2C COLLECTED DONATED SUPPLIES FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS AND RELIED ON A ROBUST VOLUNTEER BASE FOR DAILY OPERATIONS. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 200 VOLUNTEERS LOGGED MORE THAN 2,700 HOURS SUPPORTING THE CRAYONS2CALCULATORS TEAM BY SORTING DONATIONS, FILLING ORDERS, AND DELIVERING SUPPLIES TO SCHOOLS.COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INCUBATION: THIS YEAR, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS RECEIVED SUPPORT ADDRESSING FOOD AND CLOTHING INSECURITY, INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SOCIAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. SCHOOL COORDINATORS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ALSO LEANED IN CLOSER ON SHARED DECISION-MAKING AND LEADERSHIP. DPS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INCLUDED FAYETTEVILLE STREET ELEMENTARY, LAKEWOOD ELEMENTARY, AND CLUB BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY. IN MARCH 2025, STUDENT U TOOK THE HELM AS THE LEAD AGENCY TO MANAGE DURHAM'S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND SCALE THE INCUBATED MODEL ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WE CONTINUED TO FOSTER TEACHERS' SKILLS THROUGH THE TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (TLA). TLA TEACHERS LEARNED ABOUT HISTORICAL AND CURRENT SYSTEMS THAT CREATE INEQUITIES FOR STUDENTS AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM. WE ALSO CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ENROLLMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DPS AND THE DPS GROWING TOGETHER INITIATIVE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S REDISTRICTING PLAN.WE CELEBRATED ALEC VIRGIL OF MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL AT DURHAM TECH AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR. WE WERE PROUD TO CHAMPION DPS EDUCATORS AND STAFF AS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS CEREMONY.IN MARCH, WE LAUNCHED THE DPS BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION FUND TO ADDRESS THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE. THE FUND AIMED TO COVER THE $380 CERTIFICATION COST FOR INTERESTED DRIVERS. WE RAISED OVER $13,000 TO SUPPORT 35 NEW DRIVERS.
- $288,963 spent. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ADVOCACY: THE DPS FOUNDATION SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (FAMILY ENGAGEMENT) RECOGNIZED THAT PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR STUDENTS' LEARNING AND ACKNOWLEDGE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONCEPT. HOMEWORK WITH AMIGOS, SEMBRANDO RACES, AND THE DPS FOUNDATION PARENT COLLECTIVE WERE PROGRAMS THAT EMBODIED THESE CONCEPTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS MODEL.WE ADVANCED THIS WORK BY PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR DPS PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER, ORGANIZE, AND SUPPORT THE WHOLE FAMILY.THIS YEAR, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDED, BUT WERE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:HOMEWORK WITH AMIGOS: HOMEWORK WITH AMIGOS SUPPORTED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY, DUKE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM, AND LEAP TUTORING. THIS YEAR, THE PROGRAM SERVED A TOTAL OF 42 STUDENTS FROM 25 FAMILIES.ALIANZA POR LA EDUCACION ("THE COLLECTIVE"): ALIANZA POR LA EDUCACION SERVED AS AN ADVOCACY SPACE WHERE LATINX PARENT LEADERS WORKED TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCHOOLS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL STRONG, ADVOCACY EFFORTS THIS YEAR FOCUSED ON CHANGING CRITICAL SCHOOL POLICIES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS.SEMBRANDO RAICES: SEMBRANDO RAICES BEGAN AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR LATINX FAMILIES ON THE GROUNDS OF CLUB BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY, ONE OF THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM'S INITIAL MISSION WAS TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY FOR WORKING-CLASS LATINX FAMILIES, A NEED THAT HAD GROWN INCREASINGLY URGENT IN RECENT YEARS. AS THE PROGRAM EVOLVED, SEMBRANDO RIACES BECAME A SAFE, PUBLIC SPACE WHERE MORE THAN 30 DPS LATINX FAMILIES GATHERED EVERY FRIDAY FROM MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER TO TEND THE GARDEN, HARVEST AND SHARE FOOD, AND ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE, ORGANIZING AROUND ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR LIVES AND SHARING STORIES OF IMPACT. EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY REMAINED AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS WORK. THIS YEAR, WE HOSTED 39 CONVENINGS WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 3040 PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 15 DPS SCHOOLS.DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM: THE DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM WAS A GRANT-FUNDED INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY THAT PROVIDED DIGITAL LITERACY COURSES TO DPS CAREGIVERS. THE PROGRAM AIMED TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND EQUIP CAREGIVERS WITH TANGIBLE SKILLS TO MORE FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. IN 2024-2025, 71 PARENTS COMPLETED THE COHORT, WITH 94% REPORTING INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN THEIR COMPUTER SKILLS. AN ADDITIONAL 6% CHOSE TO RETAKE THE CLASS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT. SEVENTY PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN SPANISH, WHILE THE REMAINING PARTICIPANTS WERE INSTRUCTED IN ENGLISH.
- $400,451 spent. CAREER & LIFE READINESSPOSTSECONDARY SUCCESS: THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY-BASED FAFSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A PLUS TEST PREP, WHICH SERVED AS THE TRAINING FACILITATOR. TOGETHER, WE DESIGNED AND DELIVERED TRAINING THAT EQUIPPED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO GUIDE FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAFSA APPLICATION PROCESS. THIS YEAR, WE ASSISTED 66 FAMILIES WITH FAFSA APPLICATIONS AND GREW A COHORT OF NAVIGATORS, TOTALING 47 TRAINED NAVIGATORS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS EXPANDING VOLUNTEER COHORT INCREASED DURHAM'S CAPACITY TO ENSURE MORE STUDENTS HAD ACCESS TO THE FINANCIAL AID NEEDED TO PURSUE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.IN ADDITION, WE CONVENED THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS ALLIANCE, A COALITION OF COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO THE POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS OF DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS. COALITION MEMBERS COLLABORATED TO DESIGN A POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS RESOURCE HUB TO MAKE INFORMATION AND SUPPORTS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO DPS STUDENTS AS THEY PLANNED FOR AND PURSUED EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.WE ALSO CONVENED A SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND EDUCATORS FOCUSED ON LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND NONPROFITS SERVING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. CONNECT TO SUCCESS, HELD IN JUNE, WAS DESIGNED TO INFORM DPS STAFF WHO REGULARLY INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT THE WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS AVAILABLE TO ADVANCE STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS.COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: WE COMPLETED THE FIFTH SCHOLARSHIP CYCLE THIS YEAR, AWARDING $62,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 23 GRADUATING DPS SENIORS. WE CONTINUED TO REFINE THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS AND EXPAND OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS WITH LOWER APPLICANT NUMBERS. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS INCREASED BY 20% THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HIRED AN INTERN TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND OFFER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS NAVIGATING THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS REVIEWING APPLICATIONS.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE DEEPENED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DPS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEAM TO HOST THE ACCELER8 CAREER EXPOSURE EVENT. WE ADDED BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL WORKDAYS AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND WE SUPPORTED DPS SENIOR STAFF IN ATTENDING THE DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERCITY VISIT ALONGSIDE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF PARTNERSHIPS.
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
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 June 2025.
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 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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