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Georgia Coalition for Higher Education in Prison

EIN 86-3043333 · Oxford, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION: THE GEORGIA COALITION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON (GACHEP) BUILDS HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS, FROM PRE-COLLEGE COURSEWORK TO ACCREDITED DEGREE COMPLETION, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT PRISON IN GEORGIA. OUR VISION: WE ENVISION A WORLD THAT PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO ALL.

Income
$466,026
Spending
$603,739
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
7
Volunteers
484
Highest pay
$123,476, co-exec dire

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 73% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a 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

    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 January 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 (1)
  1. $395,759 spent. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & GOVERNANCE -UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO ALIGN STAFF CAPACITY WITH PROGRAM NEEDS. -INCORPORATED EQUITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO GOVERNANCE AND POLICY DOCUMENTS. GRANT READINESS & FUND DEVELOPMENT -SUBMITTED MULTIPLE GRANT PROPOSALS WITH BUDGET NARRATIVES TO SECURE FUNDING. -DESIGNED REENTRY CARE COORDINATION AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM MODELS CONSISTENT WITH FUNDER REQUIREMENTS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTNERSHIPS -PARTNERED WITH FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EVENTS, COMMEMORATIONS, AND BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILES. -SUPPORTED RECOGNITION OF MILESTONES FOR JUSTICE?IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS. PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT -EXPANDING PATHWAYS FROM INCARCERATION TO HIGHER EDUCATION: PROVIDED GUIDANCE, REFERRALS, AND TRANSITIONAL ACADEMIC PLANNING FOR INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS; STRENGTHENED STATEWIDE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. SERVICE PROVIDED TO 268 INDIVIDUALS. -IMPROVING REENTRY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES: DELIVERED PRE?RELEASE WORKSHOPS, NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS; SUPPORTED POST?RELEASE STUDENTS THROUGH A REENTRY AMBASSADOR AT CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE. SERVICE PROVIDED TO 188 INDIVIDUALS. -ENGAGE: IN MARCH 2024, SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM ASCENDIUM, LAUNCHED ENGAGE, A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON ACROSS GEORGIA. THE INAUGURAL CONVENING, A NEW LEGACY, WAS HELD IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA WITH 22 LEADERS PARTICIPATING IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED STRATEGIC VISIONING SESSIONS, A TOUR OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, AND COLLEGIATE VISITS TO CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY AND SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE CONVENING ADVANCED GACHEP'S MISSION BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON WHILE ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE EQUITY? CENTERED PROGRAMMING. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT & GOVERNANCE -UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO ALIGN STAFF CAPACITY WITH PROGRAM NEEDS. -INCORPORATED EQUITY AND LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO GOVERNANCE AND POLICY DOCUMENTS. GRANT READINESS & FUND DEVELOPMENT -SUBMITTED MULTIPLE GRANT PROPOSALS WITH BUDGET NARRATIVES TO SECURE FUNDING. -DESIGNED REENTRY CARE COORDINATION AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM MODELS CONSISTENT WITH FUNDER REQUIREMENTS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTNERSHIPS -PARTNERED WITH FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH EVENTS, COMMEMORATIONS, AND BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILES. -SUPPORTED RECOGNITION OF MILESTONES FOR JUSTICE?IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND PARTNERS. PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT -EXPANDING PATHWAYS FROM INCARCERATION TO HIGHER EDUCATION: PROVIDED GUIDANCE, REFERRALS, AND TRANSITIONAL ACADEMIC PLANNING FOR INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS; STRENGTHENED STATEWIDE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. SERVICE PROVIDED TO 268 INDIVIDUALS. -IMPROVING REENTRY EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES: DELIVERED PRE?RELEASE WORKSHOPS, NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS; SUPPORTED POST?RELEASE STUDENTS THROUGH A REENTRY AMBASSADOR AT CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE. SERVICE PROVIDED TO 188 INDIVIDUALS. -ENGAGE: IN MARCH 2024, SUPPORTED BY A GRANT FROM ASCENDIUM, LAUNCHED ENGAGE, A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON ACROSS GEORGIA. THE INAUGURAL CONVENING, A NEW LEGACY, WAS HELD IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA WITH 22 LEADERS PARTICIPATING IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED STRATEGIC VISIONING SESSIONS, A TOUR OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, AND COLLEGIATE VISITS TO CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY AND SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE CONVENING ADVANCED GACHEP'S MISSION BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMPLEX HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON WHILE ESTABLISHING A COLLABORATIVE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE EQUITY? CENTERED PROGRAMMING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 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 January 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 August 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.