Skip to the page content
Passes our checks

Pittsburgh Scholar House Inc

EIN 92-1209695 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEDICATED TO USING TWO-GENERATION STRATEGIES TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY ENABLING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LOW-INCOME SINGLE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN. THE PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE AIMS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES IN PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THEM ENTER HIGH-GROWTH CAREERS TO ENABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SUSTAIN BETTER QUALITY OF LIVES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

Income
$2.0 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
0
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$170,189, ceo

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 106% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 (1)
  1. $706,412 spent. PSH IS UNIQUE AMONGST SCHOLAR HOUSE AFFILIATES FOR INTRODUCING THE WAYFINDERS PROGRAM PORTFOLIO, A VISIONARY ENDEAVOR DESIGNED TO IGNITE A POSITIVE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL PROSPERITY FOR ECONOMICALLY STRIVING SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES. THIS METICULOUSLY DESIGNED SUITE OF PROGRAMS EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS, REFERRED TO AS SCHOLARS, BY SETTING THEM ON A PATH TO MULTI-GENERATIONAL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.WAYFINDERS PREP - PARENTS NOT ALREADY ENROLLED IN A DEGREE PROGRAM EMBARK ON THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY CONFIDENTLY WITH WAYFINDERS PREP--A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT EQUIPS THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL FOR HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. PREP SCHOLARS CAN EARN THREE TRANSFERABLE CREDITS OF COLLEGE READINESS COURSEWORK FOR FREE AT ONE OF THREE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS: CARLOW UNIVERSITY, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, OR WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY.WAYFINDERS PLUS - PARENTING STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A DEGREE PROGRAM ELEVATE THEIR EDUCATION THROUGH WAYFINDERS PLUS. TAILORED FOR THOSE ALREADY IN ACADEMIC PURSUITS, WAYFINDERS PLUS OFFERS ONGOING SUPPORT, VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND A VIBRANT COMMUNITY, SEAMLESSLY BALANCING STUDIES AND PARENTING.WAYFINDERS PLUS HOUSING - WAYFINDERS PLUS HOUSING PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE, 2GEN LIVING ENVIRONMENTS (TRANSFORMATIONAL HOUSING) IN WHICH PARENTING STUDENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN CAN RESIDE TOGETHER THROUGHOUT THE PARENTS' STUDIES, RECEIVE AGE-APPROPRIATE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND BUILD ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL COMMUNITY WITH THEIR PEERS. WAYFINDERS PLUS HOUSING IS OPEN TO INCOME-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE WAYFINDERS PLUS PROGRAM.WAYFINDERS READY2PROSPER - UPON GRADUATION, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES WITH WAYFINDERS: READY2PROSPER - A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON HIGH-QUALITY JOB ACCESS, HOMEOWNERSHIP, OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SUPPORTING PITTSBURGH SCHOLAR HOUSE GRADUATES AS THEY TRANSITION INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR JOURNEY.

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 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 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 July 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.

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.