Minds Matter
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MINDS MATTER CONNECTS DRIVEN AND DETERMINED STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH THE PEOPLE, PREPARATION, AND POSSIBILITIES TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, CREATE THEIR FUTURE, AND CHANGE THE WORLD.
- Income
- $530,058
- Spending
- $433,570
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 24 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 92%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 83
- Highest pay
- $78,339, executive director
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
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 84 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (1)
- $330,852 spent. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR PROGRAMS IS TO ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS IN GAINING ADMISSION TO COMPETITIVE SUMMER COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAMS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULUM, THIS PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS WITH A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, TEACHES TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS, HELPS DEVELOP NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND PROVIDES A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD.STUDENTS ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE SOPHOMORE PROGRAM BASED ON A RIGOROUS AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS, FINANCIAL CRITERIA, PERSONAL ESSAYS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN INTERVIEW.THE JUNIOR PROGRAM ENROLLS PREVIOUSLY SUCCESSFUL SOPHOMORE PROGRAM STUDENTS AND OCCASIONALLY ACCEPTS NEW STUDENTS BASED ON A RIGOROUS AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS, FINANCIAL CRITERIA, PERSONAL ESSAYS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AND TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN INTERVIEW.STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED A PAIR OF MENTORS WITH WHOM THEY MEET WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. MENTORS WORK WITH THEIR STUDENTS DURING SESSIONS TO SELECT SUMMER PROGRAMS, PREPARE APPLICATIONS, CREATE PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND ESSAYS, REQUEST LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, AND COMPLETE FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK. STUDENTS ALSO IMPROVE THEIR BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS AND TEST TAKING STRATEGIES FOR THE S.A.T. THROUGH THE TEST PREP PROGRAM AND IMPROVE THEIR WRITING, LOGIC AND REASONING, PRESENTATION SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS THROUGH THE WRITING AND CRITICAL THINKING PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL WORKSHOPS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS AND FIELD TRIPS, OFTEN TEAMING UP WITH THE SENIOR PROGRAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS. AFTER A STUDENT IS ADMITTED TO A SUMMER PROGRAM AND AWARDED A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE, MINDS MATTER PROVIDES AS MUCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS IS NEEDED TO SUPPLEMENT THE SCHOOL'S AWARD.STUDENTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE JUNIOR PROGRAM ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM MEETS WEEKLY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AGGRESSIVELY LEADS STUDENTS THROUGH THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. MOST STUDENTS RETAIN THEIR MENTORS FROM THE JUNIOR PROGRAM, ENHANCING THE FOUNDATION FOR STRONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT OFTEN CONTINUE AFTER THE STUDENT GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL.THE SENIOR PROGRAM GUIDES STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS BY PROVIDING TRAINING IN COLLEGE SELECTION, ESSAY WRITING, INTERVIEWING AND FINANCIAL AID. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1996 IN NEW YORK, THE SENIOR PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED ITS GOALS TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY GAINING ADMISSION TO COLLEGE BUT ALSO SUCCEEDING ONCE THERE. PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY PREPARES TALENTED YOUTH TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR UNDRGRADUATE EXPERIENCE BY BUILDING THIER ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS. WITH THE ADDITION OF PROGRAMMING THAT EDUCATES SENIORS ON SELECTING A MAJOR, ADAPTING TO COLLEGE LIFE, CHOOSING A CAREER PATH AND INTERVIEWING FOR INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS, THE SENIOR PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED INTO A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGEAND BEYOND. THE MAJORITY OF OUR SENIOR PROGRAM STUDENTS RECEIVE GENEROUS FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES FROM SCHOOLS BASED ON THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND FINANCIAL NEED. IN CASE IN WHICH A STUDENT DOES NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HIS/HER COLLEGE OF CHOICE, MINDS MATTER HELPS THE STUDENT AND HIS/HER FAMILY NEGOTIATE A MORE GENEROUS AWARD AND DETERMINE FINANICAL AID OPTIONS. MINDS MATTER ALSO PROVIDES A STIPEND TO EACH STUDENT WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE SENIOR PROGRAM. 100% OF MINDS MATTER GRADUATES HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AT A 4 YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.
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? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, 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 2004.
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.