Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Palmetto Excel Inc

EIN 82-4501336 · N Charleston, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak26 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF PALMETTO EXCEL-A LOCALLY-DRIVEN CHARTER SCHOOL BASED ON THE NATIONAL EXCEL CENTER MODEL-IS TO PROVIDE ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORT TO EARN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION WHILE DEVELOPING CAREER PATHS THAT OFFER BETTER-THAN-AVERAGE EMPLOYMENT AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
0
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$261,832, senior 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: 26 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 82% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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 (3)
  1. $1.7 million spent. FOCUS ON DIPLOMAS AND WORKFORCE TRAINING/CERTIFICATION FOR STUDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 21. PALMETTO EXCEL WILL EXCLUSIVELY SERVE ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 21 GRANTING DIPLOMAS AND OFFERING COLLEGE CREDIT AND WORKFORCE CERTIFICATIONS MAKING IT THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL OF ITS KIND IN SOUTH CAROLINA. EXCEL GRADUATED ITS FIRST CLASS OF STUDENTS, 100% OF WHOM EARNED BOTH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND WORKFORCE CERTIFICATIONS.
  2. $196,607 spent. FULL-TIME LIFE COACHES. RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE STRESSORS, SKILLS AND NEEDS OF ADULT STUDENTS, PALMETTO EXCEL WILL EMPLOY FULL-TIME LIFE COACHES WHO WILL WORK WITH STUDENTS ON SCHEDULING CLASSES, SETTING GOALS, CREATING INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS, TRACKING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. LIFE COACHING AT PALMETTO EXCEL WILL ADDRESS THE MAJOR LIFE BARRIERS AND ISSUES THAT MOST OFTEN PREVENT STUDENTS FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. RECENT GRADUATES ACHIEVED 100% OF WORKFORCE CREDENTIALS.
  3. DROP-IN CARE FOR STUDENT'S YOUNG CHILDREN. CHILDCARE IS A KEY BARRIER FOR ADULT STUDENTS WHO WANT TO PURSUE THEIR DIPLOMAS. PALMETTO EXCEL WILL REMOVE THIS BARRIER BY OFFERING FULLY-STAFFED, HIGH QUALITY DROP-IN CARE ON OR NEAR CAMPUS, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO ATTEND CLASS WHENEVER THEIR SCHEDULES ALLOW.

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 2018.

    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 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.