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Rainier Scholars

EIN 91-2045918 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CULTIVATES THE ACADEMIC POTENTIAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS. BY CREATING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND HOLISTIC SUPPORT, WE INCREASE COLLEGE GRADUATION RATES AND EMPOWER NEW GENERATIONS OF LEADERS.

Income
$17.5 million
Spending
$9.9 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
18.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
129
Volunteers
375
Highest pay
$233,937, associate ed, seattle/interim ed

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. ACADEMIC COUNSELING - THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS SCHOLARS AND FAMILIES ON THEIR CHOSEN PATHWAY TO COLLEGE GRADUATION. ACADEMIC COUNSELORS VISIT EACH SCHOLAR AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, WEEKLY TUTORING, SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND ANNUAL RETREATS, ALL DESIGNED TO BUILD INCREASED SKILLS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH PARENT EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, AS WELL AS REGULAR CONTACT WITH ACADEMIC COUNSELORS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PHASE - AN INTENSIVE 14-MONTH EXPERIENCE CENTERED IN SEATTLE, WA IN A SUPPORTIVE COHORT ENVIRONMENT, DESIGNED TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR PLACEMENT ON COLLEGE PREPARATORY PATHWAYS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS BUILD AND STRENGTHEN FOUNDATION ACADEMIC SKILLS, CULTURAL IDENTITY AND RESILIENCY OVER THE COURSE OF TWO SUMMER SESSIONS AND ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS AND SATURDAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. OVERALL, STUDENTS COMPLETE THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL YEAR (1,000 HOURS) OF ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, DESIGNED TO PREPARE THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COLLEGE PREP PATHWAYS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
  3. $1.9 million spent. TACOMA PROGRAM - THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED INTO TACOMA, WA WITH A STRONG PARTNER RELATIONSHIP WITH TACOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SEVERAL LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THIS MODEL IS DIFFERENT FROM SEATTLE AS THE MAJORITY OF SCHOLARS ARE ANTICIPATED TO FOLLOW A COLLEGE PREP PATHWAY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION'S APPROACH TO THE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT ON RAMP DIFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM SEATTLE WITH AN EXTENDED AEP MODEL SPANNING TWO YEARS AND THREE SUMMERS THAT ACCOMMODATES AND ENCOURAGE SCHOLARS TO EXCEL ACADEMICALLY AND PURSUE EXTRA CURRICULAR INTERESTS.
  4. $915,728 spent. LEADERSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT - THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS POTENTIAL AND CREATES ACCESS TO LEADERSHIP AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS THAT FOSTER SKILL BUILDING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURAL IDENTITY AND RESILIENCE, AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS FOCUSED ON CAREER EXPLORATION AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS, FOCUSED ON IMPORTANT CIVIC AND SOCIETAL ISSUES. HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SCHOLARS RECEIVE SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, PERSONALIZED CAREER COUNSELING, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER EXPLORATION AND PROFESSIONAL MENTORSHIP.

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 August 2000.

    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.