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College Affordable Inc

EIN 88-3690739 · Needham Hgts, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLLEGE AFFORDABLE IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION BUILT TO HELP FAMILIES REDUCE THE COST OF COLLEGE, MINIMIZE DEBT AND INCREASE HIGHER EDUCATION CHOICES.

Income
$732,847
Spending
$695,339
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
5
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$202,748, executive director/clerk

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: 54 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $521,549 spent. IN THE UNITED STATES, THE EXORBITANT COST OF COLLEGE AND THE COMPLEX FINANCIAL AID PROCESS HINDERS ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAN LEAD TO UNSUSTAINABLE STUDENT LOANS FOR STUDENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS. COLLEGE AFFORDABLE, INC.'S MISSION IS TO REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS, PARTICULARLY AMONG STUDENT POPULATIONS THAT POSSESS THE HIGHEST FINANCIAL NEED AND WHERE THE IMPACT IS GREATEST. IN THE FUTURE, COLLEGE AFFORDABLE, INC. WILL RAISE DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND GRANTS AND THEN WILL SPEND 70 - 80 PERCENT OF ITS TIME AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AS A FREE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND PROVIDE PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO STUDENTS WITH THE GREATEST NEED TO NAVIGATE THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. WE WILL PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ONLINE WEBINARS ON TIMELY TOPICS SUCH AS COMPLETING THE FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS (FAFSA), STUDENT LOAN OPTIONS, UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID AWARDS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS. FAMILIES, HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS MAY CALL OR EMAIL FOR ANSWERS TO FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS. PERSONALIZED SUPPORT WITH COMPLETING FINANCIAL AID OR STUDENT LOAN APPLICATIONS MAY BE ARRANGED WITH A PARTNER SCHOOL OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS QUALIFYING BASED ON ADVERSE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.COLLEGE AFFORDABLE, INC. INTENDS TO RAISE MONEY FROM PHILANTHROPISTS AND FROM INDUSTRY ADJACENT SERVICES PROVIDERS. EXPENSES WILL BE FOR FUNDRAISING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AS WELL AS EXECUTION OF OUR PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES. COLLEGE AFFORDABLE INC. INTENDS TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF QUALIFIED VOLUNTEERS IN THE DELIVERY OF THE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION PROVIDED. AT THE CURRENT TIME AND IN THE INITIAL STAGES ALL SUPPORT BEING PROVIDED IS ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS, AND NO COMPENSATION IS BEING PAID AT THIS TIME AND DURING THE STARTUP PHASE OF THE ORGANIZATION.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 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 March 2023.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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