Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Challenge Foundation Inc

EIN 84-1480014 · Englewood, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair68 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHALLENGE FOUNDATION EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT, BRIDGING THE GAP TO AN EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION AND LIFELONG SUCCESS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
21.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
8
Volunteers
98

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 23% 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 May 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)
  1. $285,288 spent. CHALLENGE SUMMER PROGRAM:THE CHALLENGE SUMMER PROGRAM IS HELD AT ST MARY'S ACADEMY FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX WEEKS. STUDENTS ARE RISING 6TH, 7TH, 8TH AND 9TH GRADERS. THE STUDENTS MUST HAVE FINANCIAL NEED AND HAVE DEMONSTRATED ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE SUMMER STAFF CONSISTS OF TEACHERS, CO-TEACHERS AND YEAR ROUND CHALLENGE FOUNDATION STAFF MEMBERS. SUMMER PROGRAM CLASSES ARE LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH AND SCIENCE. ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PUBLIC SPEAKING, SWIMMING LESSONS, HIGH ROPES COURSE, DANCE, SPORTS, COLLEGE VISITS, CAREER DAY, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND MUSIC. BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACKS ARE SERVED. TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED.
  2. $993,912 spent. TUTORING, MENTORING AND ADVISING:THE CHALLENGE FOUNDATION MATCHES STUDENTS WITH A VOLUNTEER MENTOR WHO PARTNERS WITH THE FAMILY AND THE STAFF TO PROVIDE ON-GOING SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. THE MENTOR IS A PROFESSIONAL IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO IS TRAINED TO SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL AND TEAM MEMBER IN THE SCHOLARS' EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. TUTORING IS OFFERED AND ACCESSED AS NEEDED AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE SCHOLARS' EXPERIENCE, FROM 6TH GRADE THROUGH COLLEGE, INCLUDING ACT/SAT PREP. ALL OF THESE SUPPORTS ARE MANAGED BY A CHALLENGE ADVISOR ON STAFF WHO HELPS STUDENTS OVERCOME OBSTACLES IN THEIR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC LIVES. ADVISORS ATTEND TEACHER CONFERENCES, OBTAIN COMPUTERS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND COUNSEL THEM THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION PROCESS.
  3. $604,255 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS:THE CHALLENGE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS FROM SIXTH THROUGH TWELFTH GRADES. TO BE ELIGIBLE, FAMILIES DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL NEED AND STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE YEAR-ROUND ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND COMMITMENT. THE PROGRAM WILL IMPACT APPROXIMATELY 160 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 May 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 1999.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Challenger School Foundation (Sandy, UT), EIN 47-1405971. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.