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Alliance for Higher Education in Prison

EIN 92-3435116 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON, EMPOWER STUDENTS WHILE IN PRISON AND AFTER RELEASE, AND SHAPE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT EDUCATION AND INCARCERATION.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
8
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$94,446, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2294% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (2)
  1. $1.6 million spent. OVER THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON (AHEP) STRENGTHENED ITS ROLE AS THE NATIONAL BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON (HEP) FIELD. AHEP CONVENED THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON (NCHEP), HOSTING APPROXIMATELY 950 PARTICIPANTS IN NEW ORLEANS, AND FACILITATED VIRTUAL CONVENINGS AND WEBINARS THAT SUPPORTED COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE FOR EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED LEADERS. THE ALLIANCE FACILITATED A YEAR-LONG NATIONAL COHORT OF 14 PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING EQUITABLE WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCARCERATED STUDENTS, PROVIDING STRUCTURED PEER LEARNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND APPLIED GUIDANCE. --- CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O ---
  2. -------------------- LINE 4A, CONTINUED --------------------- IN CONNECTION WITH THIS WORK, AHEP PARTNERED WITH AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH TO PUBLISH EDUCATION IN ACTION: WORK-BASED LEARNING IN PRISON, A NATIONAL REPORT EXAMINING POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO WORK-BASED LEARNING IN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS. AHEP ALSO HOSTED THE INCARCERATED SCHOLARS CONFERENCE, A NATIONAL CONVENING THAT CENTERS INCARCERATED SCHOLARS AND SUPPORTS THE PRESENTATION AND EXCHANGE OF ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP PRODUCED INSIDE PRISONS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH W. W. NORTON & COMPANY, AHEP OPERATED A NATIONAL PRISON EDUCATION BOOK PROGRAM THAT DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 3,650 NEW ACADEMIC TEXTBOOKS ACROSS 84 DISTINCT TITLES TO MORE THAN 50 PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE, REPRESENTING AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF OVER 360,000 IN DONATED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. DURING THE YEAR, AHEP COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE, YEAR-LONG STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS GROUNDED IN EXTENSIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND ADOPTED A MULTI-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE FUTURE FIELD LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND IMPACT.

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 October 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 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.