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Cahn Fellows Programs Corporation

EIN 85-3619218 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CAHN FELLOWS PROGRAMS SEEK TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS BY PROVIDING DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL LEADERS WITH ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNITION.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
9
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$255,680, executive director

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 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 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. $1.8 million spent. CAHN DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPALS FELLOWSHIP: CAHN FELLOWSHIP KEEPS EXCELLENT PRINCIPALS LONGER. SINCE 2003, WE HAVE DELIVERED OUR PROGRAM TO HIGH-PERFORMING PRINCIPALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE PARTICIPATION FROM PRINCIPALS AND ASPIRING LEADERS IN ATLANTA, BOSTON, CHICAGO, CLEVELAND, DENVER, HOUSTON, LOS ANGELES, MIAMI, NEW YORK CITY, SAN ANTONIO, TAMPA AND DC METRO AREAS. WE PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH ADVANCED LEADERSHIP, NATIONWIDE NETWORKING, INTERCITY SCHOOL VISITATIONS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN PERSPECTIVES FROM OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN SOLVING CHALLENGING ISSUES.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN THEIR CAPACITY AS CAHN FELLOWS AND ALLIES, SCHOOL LEADERS ARE ASKED TO IDENTIFY A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE THEY ARE FACING IN THEIR SCHOOLS WHICH THEY BELIEVE, WHEN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED, WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, SCHOOL CULTURE AND/SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, AS WELL AS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. EACH YEAR, FELLOWS AND ALLIES ARE ASKED TO INDEPENDENTLY CHOOSE THEIR LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE AND ENGAGE THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN THE CHANGE PROCESS.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FELLOWS AND ALLIES CONVENE IN COLLABORATIVE TEAMS ON MULTIPLE DAYS ACROSS CITIES WHERE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM THEIR PEERS, EXPAND THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND ENHANCE THEIR KNOWLEDGE. EACH GROUP IS LED BY A CAHN ALUMNI ADVISOR.
  2. $362,142 spent. CAHN LEADERSHIP LAB: KNOWING THAT OVER 50% OF NEWLY HIRED PRINCIPALS LEAVE THE PROFESSION BY YEARS 3 AND 4, IN 2023, WE LAUNCHED OUR NEW PROGRAM FOR THOSE EARLY CAREER PRINCIPALS.DESIGNED FOR PRINCIPALS WHO ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THEIR SCHOOL, AND SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICE. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS A LEARNING COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER DYNAMIC LEADERS WHO ARE AT THE SAME CRITICAL STAGES IN THEIR TENURE. THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED COACHING TO EXPAND THEIR THINKING AND PREPARE THEM TO LEAD LARGE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHERE ARE FOUR CONVENINGS IN THE CAHN LEADERSHIP LAB. THE CONVENINGS BEGIN WITH AN EXCURSION TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM AND ROSA PARKS MUSEUM IN MONTGOMERY, AL, WHERE WE LOOK AT CHANGE THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND LED BY LEADERS WITH HOPE AND BRAVERY. PRACTITIONERS ARE TASKED WITH ASSESSING THEIR COMMUNITY FOR AREAS OF NEEDED CHANGE.
  3. $114,473 spent. CAHN ALUMNI NETWORK: CAHN FELLOWSHIP HAS ESTABLISHED AN ALUMNI NETWORK OF PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL LEADERS THAT SUPPORTS CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND LONG-LASTING CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE NATION. THE CAHN ALUMNI NETWORK HELPS US TO ENSURE THOSE CONNECTIONS REMAIN STRONG WHILE ALSO WELCOMING CURRENT AND FUTURE FELLOWS INTO A LEGACY OF SUPPORT, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSFORMATIONAL RESOURCES.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2021.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.