The Academy Group
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FUELED BY THE BELIEF THAT TALENT IS UBIQUITOUS, THE ACADEMY GROUP UNLOCKS OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE NATION'S MOST RESILIENT COMMUNITIES TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL CHANGE AGENTS.
- Income
- $11.5 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 66
- Volunteers
- 4
- Highest pay
- $349,905, ceo - chicago academy
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 97% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
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 (2)
- $7.8 million spent. THE ACADEMY GROUP (ACADEMY) WORKS WITH FAMILIES FROM ACROSS REGIONS: BOSTON, CHICAGO, DETROIT, AND LOS ANGELES. NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS THE ORGANIZATION SERVES ARE BLACK AND BROWN AND THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR REACH TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES YOUNG ADULTS WHO ATTEND A BROAD RANGE OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.OVER A FOURTEEN-YEAR JOURNEY, THE ACADEMY GUIDES STUDENTS THROUGH INTENSE INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION OF BUSINESS, WEALTH CREATION, AND LEADERSHIP. PROGRAMMING AT THE ACADEMY IS RIGOROUS, PERSONALIZED, AND CUMULATIVE. THE ORGANIZATION REINFORCES CORE SKILLS THAT ACCELERATE ACADEMIC PROGRESS, PUTTING STUDENTS ON TRACK TO REACH AMBITIOUS EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER, AND WEALTH-BUILDING MILESTONES.
- $1.7 million spent. THE AMPLIFY CHICAGO (AMPLIFY) PROGRAM IS A WEALTH-BUILDING PATHWAY INTEGRATING CAREER, LEADERSHIP, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR 21 TO 30- YEAR-OLD YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN FROM THE MOST RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE, CRIMINALIZATION, ECONOMIC DISRUPTION, AND EDUCATIONAL DISINVESTMENT.AMPLIFY'S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP IS GROUNDED IN TRANSFORMATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND DESIGNED TO ACCELERATE BUSINESS, ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH. THROUGH THE INTENSIVE INTERNSHIP AND APPRENTICESHIP MODEL, PARTICIPANTS EARN INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS, BUILD INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, ADDRESS TRAUMA, SET PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS, AND TRANSITION INTO CAREER AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PATHWAYS.JUST LIKE THE ACADEMY, AMPLIFY PROVES THAT TALENT IS UBIQUITOS.
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 October 13, 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 July 2019.
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 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.