Upward Bound School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE GOAL OF UPWARD BOUND IS TO INCREASE THE RATE AT WHICH PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE SECONDARY EDUCATION AND ENROLL IN AND GRADUATE FROM INSTITUTIONS OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 42
- Volunteers
- 1
- Highest pay
- $134,600, vice president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 191% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 39% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 251 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $525,974 spent. SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION (SAI) - IS TAILORED TO A PARTICULAR STUDENT. IT ADDRESSES THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) GOALS; ACCOUNTS FOR THEIR DISABILITY; PROVIDES MODIFICATIONS OR ADAPTATIONS TO CONTENT; AND ENCOURAGES ACCESS TO THE GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM.
- $365,319 spent. BEHAVIOUR (BID AND BII) - THESE SERVICES HELP STUDENTS WHO HAVE LEARNING, EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND/OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND MAKE PROGRESS DATA DRIVEN BEHAVIORAL RELATED SERVICE THAT SUPPORTS AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT WHO. EXHIBITS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM BEHAVIORS IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
- $273,825 spent. COUNSELING - IT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED AND GROUP THERAPY SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, FOCUSING ON ADDRESSING EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES THAT MAY IMPACT THEIR LEARNING AND OVERALL WELL-BEING, OFTEN COLLABORATING WITH TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS AS PART OF THE STUDENT'S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP)
- $231,346 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE GENERAL PROGRAMS, PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPIST, LIVE SCAN REIMBURSEMENTS, ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT, CLEANING SERVICES AND CARE DIVERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.
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 May 2022.
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.