Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Colorado Academy

EIN 84-0421874 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 51 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CREATING CURIOUS, KIND, COURAGEOUS, AND ADVENTUROUS LEARNERS AND LEADERS.

Income
$54.2 million
Spending
$51.5 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 83%
Employees
651
Volunteers
650
Highest pay
$589,866, head of school

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 51 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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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. $38.5 million spent. EDUCATION OF 1,032 STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 12. COLORADO ACADEMY STRIVES FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH ACADEMIC STUDIES, ATHLETIC PURSUITS, ARTISTIC VENTURES, SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. STUDENTS LEARN TO THINK AND CREATE AS THEY FORGE A LIFE-LONG LEARNING ADVENTURE.
  2. $3.7 million spent. SUMMER AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,700 STUDENTS INCLUDES A TRADITIONAL SUMMER CAMP, SPECIALTY CAMPS, AND THE HORIZONS PROGRAM. THE SUMMER PROGRAM AT COLORADO ACADEMY, FOUNDED IN 1951, PROVIDES A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO MORE THAN 500 KIDS (AGES 4 THROUGH 18) FOR EIGHT WEEKS EACH SUMMER. THE PROGRAMS ARE FUN, ENGAGING, AND CHALLENGING-BOTH INTELLECTUALLY AND PHYSICALLY. HORIZONS AT COLORADO ACADEMY IS ONE OF OVER 60 AFFILIATES AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT PROVIDES EXTENSIVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH IN AND AROUND DENVER. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1998, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN EXTENSIVELY. IN 2025, ENROLLMENT WAS AT 225 STUDENTS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL IS USED BY APPROXIMATELY 500 STUDENTS.

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 November 6, 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 April 1952.

    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 November 4, 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.