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Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative

EIN 86-2475305 · Durango, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE STRENGTHENS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING PATHWAYS IN CAREER READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS TO BUILD 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS AND ECONOMICALLY VIABLE FUTURES.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
13
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$67,277, executive di

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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)
  1. $1.4 million spent. THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE CURRENTLY PROVIDES CAREER AND COLLEGE ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO RURAL STUDENTS THROUGH TWO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND IN FIVE SOUTHWEST REGION SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH EXPANSION PLANS TO INCLUDE FOUR ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE WORKS. SWCEC WAS AWARDED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL GRANT MONEY IN 2022 TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. SWCEC HAS EXTENSIVELY WORKED WITH THIRTY INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE WORK BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 186 STUDENTS LAST YEAR. SWCEC STARTED WITH TWO CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS (BUILDING TRADES AND ENVIRONMENTAL) AND EXPANDED TO THREE ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS THIS YEAR (HEALTH SCIENCES, EDUCATIONS, AND HOSPITALITY & TOURISM). IN ADDITION TO THE HOST WORK BASED LEARNING EVENTS, SWCEC BROUGHT AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE REGION TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF A CAREER EXPLORATION MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM, SUPPORTING FOUR NEW DISTRICTS TO ENTER THE ORGANIZATION, AND IMPLEMENTING THREE NEW PATHWAYS WITH EQUIPMENT, EDUCATOR TRAINING, AND STUDENT ACCESS. THE SOUTHWEST COLORADO EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE CURRENTLY PROVIDES CAREER AND COLLEGE ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES TO RURAL STUDENTS THROUGH TWO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND IN FIVE SOUTHWEST REGION SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH EXPANSION PLANS TO INCLUDE FOUR ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS IN THE WORKS. SWCEC WAS AWARDED FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL GRANT MONEY IN 2022 TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. SWCEC HAS EXTENSIVELY WORKED WITH THIRTY INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE WORK BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 186 STUDENTS LAST YEAR. SWCEC STARTED WITH TWO CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS (BUILDING TRADES AND ENVIRONMENTAL) AND EXPANDED TO THREE ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS THIS YEAR (HEALTH SCIENCES, EDUCATIONS, AND HOSPITALITY & TOURISM). IN ADDITION TO THE HOST WORK BASED LEARNING EVENTS, SWCEC BROUGHT AN ADDITIONAL 5 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE REGION TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF A CAREER EXPLORATION MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM, SUPPORTING FOUR NEW DISTRICTS TO ENTER THE ORGANIZATION, AND IMPLEMENTING THREE NEW PATHWAYS WITH EQUIPMENT, EDUCATOR TRAINING, AND STUDENT ACCESS.

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

  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 June 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 January 2022.

    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.

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.