The Equity Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
EQUITY INSTITUTE IS AN EDUCATION-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
- Income
- $1.2 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 10.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $214,317, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 253 of 5 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
0 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, 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)
- $605,402 spent. EDUCATOR PATHWAY PROGRAM (EPP): A COMPREHENSIVE INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT DEDICATED TEACHING ASSISTANTS IN PURSUING THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN EDUCATION AND BECOMING CERTIFIED TEACHERS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A STRUCTURED PATHWAY, RESOURCES, AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO HELP PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. WE DO THIS THROUGH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LICENSURE EXAM SUPPORT, AND PATHWAY COACHING.
- $154,803 spent. EQUITY LEARNING LABS: OUR TRAININGS USE INNOVATIVE DESIGN EXPERIENCES TO INCREASE EMPATHY AND PROMOTE CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS IN EQUITABLE LEARNING COMMUNITIES. WE'RE REIMAGINING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAININGS TO SEE PEOPLE AS DESIGNERS IN CREATING SUSTAINABLE CHANGE FOR THEIR SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS. OUR APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING HIGH-IMPACT SOLUTIONS IS DRIVEN BOTH BY RESEARCH AND THE EXPERTISE OF THE DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES WE WORK WITH. WE AIM TO ACTIVATE PROFOUND CHANGE AND KNOW TRANSFORMATION TAKES STEADY WORK. WHEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS, RACISM, AND OPPRESSION, WE CREATE CONDITIONS FOR GENERATIVE DIALOGUE AND SUPPORT LEADERS AS THEY MOVE COURAGEOUSLY THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS, ANALYSIS, AND ACTION. BUILDING COLLABORATION ACROSS IDENTITIES IS KEY; TRUST HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN UNLOCKING DOORS LEADING TO NEW PATHWAYS.
- $60,719 spent. MEETUPS: EI RECOGNIZES THE POWER OF CONNECTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A STRONG, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR EDUCATORS. OUR MEETUPS ARE A PEOPLE-CENTERED INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION THAT WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALL FIELDS TO UNITE, SUPPORT, AND EMPOWER PEOPLE FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2019.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.