Aspire Institute Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Aspire's mission is to empower low-income and first-generation college students and recent graduates to act independently, make informed choices, and affect meaningful change. Through the tuition-free, online Aspire Leaders Program, participants develop resilience, cultural awareness, and leadership skills to help them navigate challenges and embrace opportunities in education, careers, and life. By fostering confidence, self-efficacy, and collaboration, Aspire equips future leaders to create lasting impacts in their communities and beyond.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 188
- Highest pay
- $191,375, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 8% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 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 December 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)
- $2.0 million spent. Develop Skills for the Future: We equip learners with the core leadership and workplace skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex, technology-enabled world.Foster a Global Community: Aspire builds peer networks spanning 192+ countries, fostering belonging and connection among underrepresented young leaders. Local Impact, Global Mindset: Aspire Institute strengthens local ecosystems through regional hubs and partnerships, bringing global perspectives to learners' own contexts. Promote Lifelong Learning: We provide ongoing opportunities for growth, such as mentorship, financial awards, career pathways, and AI leadership programs.Turn Ambition into Action: We enable learners to build confidence, find their voice, and lead meaningful change in their communities and beyond. Above all, we seek to broaden what learners believe is possible for themselves and help them aspire to lives of meaning and impact.Advanced Leadership Opportunities: Seed FundThis program offers crucial initial funding to ALP graduates with visionary ideas for community transformation. By providing seed capital, we empower innovators to convert their concepts into tangible projects that address local needs. This program offers financial resources between $200-$500 and acts as a launchpad for grassroots innovation. It aims to foster a culture of proactive problem-solving and civic engagement by turning ambitious visions into real-world impact.No of winners in 2025: 206Academic Advancement GrantThis initiative provides financial support for educational pursuits beyond traditional degree programs. Grants are awarded to fund professional certifications, specialized exams, online courses, etc. By removing financial barriers to continued learning, we empower individuals to stay current in rapidly evolving industries and advance their professional trajectories.No of winners in 2025: 169Community Action AwardThe Community Action Award is a year-long program through which seed fund winners get the chance to apply for up to $5000 to scale their initiatives.No of winners in 2025: 12Aspire ReunitedThis initiative supports cross-country collaboration projects from our alumni teams. No of winners in 2025 - 1 team of 2 people.MentorshipRegional Mentorship Series The Regional Mentorship Series is a key component of the Extended Leadership Program (ELP) at Aspire Institute, exclusively designed for alumni of the Aspire Leaders Program. These engaging, virtual, hour-long sessions provide alumni with valuable toolkits and actionable knowledge to support their personal growth and professional success.Tailored to regional contexts, the series spans Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Americas. Alumni are encouraged to join the session that aligns with their region, fostering meaningful, localized conversations and connections.Country-specific mentoringAspire also offers mentorship opportunities through the Aspire Volunteer Program (AVP). In this format, Community Leaders (CLs) and Domain Leaders (DLs) create events that follow the same structure as the regional series but are tailored to a specific country context. These sessions deepen local engagement, helping alumni connect more closely with peers and mentors in their own national networks.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 December 2021.
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.