National Association of Charter School Authorizers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. NACSA SERVES THE EDUCATION AND RESOURCE NEEDS OF THE FULL RANGE OF CHARTERING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHOSE WORK IS VITAL TO ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND SERVICING THE NEEDS OF PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR GREATER EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $5.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 81%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $351,791, ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 2510 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (5)
- $1.1 million spent. COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AT NACSA MAXIMIZES THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT BY ENSURING KEY AUDIENCES ARE AWARE OF NACSA'S WORK AND TRUST THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPERTISE SO THAT AUTHORIZERS ARE EQUIPPED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AT SCALE. AS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING, NACSA ALSO SERVES AS A LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION IN THE CHARTER SECTOR AND HELPS NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA INTERPRET HOW EVENTS IN THE NEWS ARE IMPACTING CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND OVERSIGHT. NACSA'S COMMUNICATIONS TEAM POSITIONS NACSA TO BE THE LEADING NATIONAL VOICE ON THE DIRECTION OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING AND A THOUGHT LEADER ON THE CHARTER SECTOR, SCHOOL QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN EDUCATION. COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AT NACSA MAXIMIZES THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPACT BY ENSURING KEY AUDIENCES ARE AWARE OF NACSA'S WORK AND TRUST THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPERTISE SO THAT AUTHORIZERS ARE EQUIPPED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AT SCALE. AS AN INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING, NACSA ALSO SERVES AS A LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION IN THE CHARTER SECTOR AND HELPS NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA INTERPRET HOW EVENTS IN THE NEWS ARE IMPACTING CHARTER SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND OVERSIGHT. NACSA'S COMMUNICATIONS TEAM POSITIONS NACSA TO BE THE LEADING NATIONAL VOICE ON THE DIRECTION OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING AND A THOUGHT LEADER ON THE CHARTER SECTOR, SCHOOL QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN EDUCATION.
- $1.1 million spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE NACSA CONDUCTS ITS OWN ANNUAL CONFERENCE EACH FALL, MOST RECENTLY VIRTUALLY HOSTING OVER 900 AUTHORIZERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE CONFERENCE FEATURES NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED KEYNOTE AND PLENARY SPEAKERS AND A CHOICE OF MORE THAN 40 HIGHLY INTERACTIVE AND PRACTICE-ORIENTED WORKSHOPS DEVELOPED BY AND FOR CHARTER AUTHORIZERS AND FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF TOPICAL IMPORTANCE TO ALL WHO ARE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING CHARTER SCHOOLS.
- $892,129 spent. CUSTOMIZED SUPPORTS NACSA'S MISSION IS TO HELP EACH AUTHORIZER MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS WHILE PRESERVING THE AUTONOMY THAT DEFINES QUALITY CHARTER AUTHORIZING. NACSA'S CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT IS GROUNDED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF QUALITY CHARTER AUTHORIZING (PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS), PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2004 AND UPDATED IN 2018, 2022, AND 2025 THAT PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR DELIVERING PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE ALIGNED WITH EACH AUTHORIZER'S UNIQUE CONTEXT AND GOALS. NACSA PROVIDES TAILORED SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO MEET EACH AUTHORIZER'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. OUR CUSTOMIZED APPROACH SPANS STRATEGIC PLANNING, EVALUATION, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND DECISION MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING CONTEXT-SPECIFIC POLICIES, PROTOCOLS, AND CHARTERING TEMPLATES THAT REFLECT STATE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AND LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR AUTHORIZERS SEEKING ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, OUR DECISION MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS, MERIT-BASED PROCESSES FOR CRITICAL AUTHORIZING DECISIONS, INCLUDING NEW SCHOOL APPLICATION APPROVALS. THIS ALLOWS AUTHORIZERS TO MAINTAIN DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY WHILE ACCESSING SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS. CUSTOMIZED SUPPORTS NACSA'S MISSION IS TO HELP EACH AUTHORIZER MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS WHILE PRESERVING THE AUTONOMY THAT DEFINES QUALITY CHARTER AUTHORIZING. NACSA'S CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT IS GROUNDED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS OF QUALITY CHARTER AUTHORIZING (PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS), PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2004 AND UPDATED IN 2018, 2022, AND 2025 THAT PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR DELIVERING PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE ALIGNED WITH EACH AUTHORIZER'S UNIQUE CONTEXT AND GOALS. NACSA PROVIDES TAILORED SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO MEET EACH AUTHORIZER'S UNIQUE NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. OUR CUSTOMIZED APPROACH SPANS STRATEGIC PLANNING, EVALUATION, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND DECISION MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING CONTEXT-SPECIFIC POLICIES, PROTOCOLS, AND CHARTERING TEMPLATES THAT REFLECT STATE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS AND LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR AUTHORIZERS SEEKING ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, OUR DECISION MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING RIGOROUS, MERIT-BASED PROCESSES FOR CRITICAL AUTHORIZING DECISIONS, INCLUDING NEW SCHOOL APPLICATION APPROVALS. THIS ALLOWS AUTHORIZERS TO MAINTAIN DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY WHILE ACCESSING SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS.
- $1.1 million spent. CAPACITY BUILDING NACSA RECOGNIZES THAT BUILDING STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AMONG THE NATION'S CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OVERALL SECTOR IMPROVEMENT. NACSA'S CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES WORK TO STRENGTHEN AUTHORIZING ORGANIZATIONS BY DEVELOPING THEIR INTERNAL CAPABILITIES, CULTIVATING HIGH-POTENTIAL TALENT, AND FOSTERING A ROBUST NETWORK OF CURRENT AND FUTURE EFFECTIVE LEADERS TO ENHANCE RETENTION AND SUSTAINABILITY. NACSA'S CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS INCLUDE ITS LEADERS PROGRAM, THE LEADERS ALUMNI PROGRAM, AN INTRODUCTORY BOOTCAMP DELIVERED IN MULTIPLE FORMATS, VARIOUS COHORTS RESPONDING TO CONTEXTUAL AND LANDSCAPE- BASED NEEDS, AND OTHER TARGETED ASYNCHRONOUS AND SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. POLICY + RESEARCH NACSA ENGAGES PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EDUCATION POLICY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION TO ADVANCE STRONG CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING POLICIES AND PRACTICES. NACSA COLLABORATES WITH CHARTER AND EDUCATION POLICY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DATA AND EVIDENCE TO INFLUENCE POLICYMAKERS AND PROMOTE POLICIES THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. NACSA'S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING AND TRACKING ACTIVE CHARTER AUTHORIZERS NATIONWIDE; ANALYZING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF AUTHORIZER CHARTER SCHOOL PORTFOLIOS; INVESTIGATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING PRACTICES NATIONALLY; AND PURSUING RESEARCH THAT INFORMS NACSA'S POLICY AND ADVOCACY OBJECTIVES. NACSA'S STRATEGY, RESEARCH AND POLICY TEAM IS ALSO CHARGED WITH EVALUATING NACSA'S PROGRESS TOWARD ITS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS. MEMBERSHIP NACSA WAS FOUNDED BY AND CONTINUES TO SERVE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF AUTHORIZING AGENCIES, INCLUDING STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SPECIAL PURPOSE OR INDEPENDENT CHARTERING BOARDS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SEVERAL ACTIVE AND FORMER AUTHORIZERS SERVE ALONG WITH NON-AUTHORIZERS ON THE NACSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NACSA PUBLISHES ISSUE BRIEFS, CASE STUDIES, AND MONOGRAPHS. NACSA ALSO HOSTS A WEBINAR SERIES, CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHARED LEARNING VIA VIRTUAL COHORTS, AND FACILITATES MEETINGS THAT BRING TOGETHER MEMBERS TO DISCUSS SPECIAL TOPICS OF COMMON CONCERN. MEMBER FEEDBACK IS ALSO SOLICITED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND NACSA CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO FACILITATE SHARING AND DIALOGUE AMONG MEMBERS. MEMBERS ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO OTHER NACSA DIVISIONS IF THEY SEEK ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OR ARE LOOKING FOR MORE CUSTOMIZED RESOURCES.
- CAPACITY BUILDING NACSA RECOGNIZES THAT BUILDING STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AMONG THE NATION'S CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS IS ESSENTIAL FOR OVERALL SECTOR IMPROVEMENT. NACSA'S CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES WORK TO STRENGTHEN AUTHORIZING ORGANIZATIONS BY DEVELOPING THEIR INTERNAL CAPABILITIES, CULTIVATING HIGH-POTENTIAL TALENT, AND FOSTERING A ROBUST NETWORK OF CURRENT AND FUTURE EFFECTIVE LEADERS TO ENHANCE RETENTION AND SUSTAINABILITY. NACSA'S CAPACITY BUILDING EFFORTS INCLUDE ITS LEADERS PROGRAM, THE LEADERS ALUMNI PROGRAM, AN INTRODUCTORY BOOTCAMP DELIVERED IN MULTIPLE FORMATS, VARIOUS COHORTS RESPONDING TO CONTEXTUAL AND LANDSCAPE- BASED NEEDS, AND OTHER TARGETED ASYNCHRONOUS AND SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. POLICY + RESEARCH NACSA ENGAGES PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND EDUCATION POLICY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE NATION TO ADVANCE STRONG CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING POLICIES AND PRACTICES. NACSA COLLABORATES WITH CHARTER AND EDUCATION POLICY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DATA AND EVIDENCE TO INFLUENCE POLICYMAKERS AND PROMOTE POLICIES THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. NACSA'S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING AND TRACKING ACTIVE CHARTER AUTHORIZERS NATIONWIDE; ANALYZING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF AUTHORIZER CHARTER SCHOOL PORTFOLIOS; INVESTIGATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZING PRACTICES NATIONALLY; AND PURSUING RESEARCH THAT INFORMS NACSA'S POLICY AND ADVOCACY OBJECTIVES. NACSA'S STRATEGY, RESEARCH AND POLICY TEAM IS ALSO CHARGED WITH EVALUATING NACSA'S PROGRESS TOWARD ITS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS. MEMBERSHIP NACSA WAS FOUNDED BY AND CONTINUES TO SERVE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF AUTHORIZING AGENCIES, INCLUDING STATE EDUCATION AGENCIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SPECIAL PURPOSE OR INDEPENDENT CHARTERING BOARDS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SEVERAL ACTIVE AND FORMER AUTHORIZERS SERVE ALONG WITH NON-AUTHORIZERS ON THE NACSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NACSA PUBLISHES ISSUE BRIEFS, CASE STUDIES, AND MONOGRAPHS. NACSA ALSO HOSTS A WEBINAR SERIES, CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHARED LEARNING VIA VIRTUAL COHORTS, AND FACILITATES MEETINGS THAT BRING TOGETHER MEMBERS TO DISCUSS SPECIAL TOPICS OF COMMON CONCERN. MEMBER FEEDBACK IS ALSO SOLICITED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND NACSA CONTINUES TO FIND WAYS TO FACILITATE SHARING AND DIALOGUE AMONG MEMBERS. MEMBERS ARE ALSO CONNECTED TO OTHER NACSA DIVISIONS IF THEY SEEK ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OR ARE LOOKING FOR MORE CUSTOMIZED RESOURCES.
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 November 6, 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 2001.
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 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.