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Columbia Christian Schools

EIN 93-1094933 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLUMBIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS SEEKS TO PROVIDE A CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION FOCUSED ON EXCELLENCE IN FAITH, CHARACTER AND ACADEMICS TO STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
106
Volunteers
104
Highest pay
$99,274, president

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

Weak: 48 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 41% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $2.8 million spent. CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: IN FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 A TOTAL OF 292 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL.EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM: THE COLUMBIA CHRISTIAN PRE-K PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS CHILDREN TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION OF THEIR WORLD AND OTHERS AROUND THEM THROUGH GUIDED DISCOVERY AS WELL AS LARGE AND SMALL GROUP INTERACTIONS. THESE EXPERIENCES WILL PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES WHERE THE CHILD IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE LEARNING PROCESS. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: THE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM INCLUDES ART, BIBLE, COMPUTERS, LANGUAGE ARTS (GRAMMAR, READING, SPELLING, WRITING, ETC.), LIBRARY SKILLS, MATHEMATICS, MUSIC/DRAMA, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES AND SPELLING. ALL CORE SUBJECTS ARE TAUGHT BY THE PRIMARY TEACHER, WHILE ART, COMPUTERS, LIBRARY SKILLS, MUSIC/DRAMA, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ARE ALL TAUGHT BY SPECIALISTS IN THOSE AREAS. DAILY DEVOTIONALS AND BIBLE CLASSES ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. AS PART OF THE REGULAR CURRICULUM, ELEMENTARY CLASSES ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN OCCASIONAL FIELD TRIPS. ELEMENTARY TEACHERS TEACH ALL SUBJECTS FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE. MIDDLE SCHOOL: THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS BASED ON STATE STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM INCLUDES YEAR-LONG CORE CLASSES IN BIBLE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCIENCE (INCLUDING LIFE SCIENCE, EARTH SCIENCE, AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE), AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (INCLUDING GEOGRAPHY, WORLD HISTORY, AND U.S. HISTORY). HIGH SCHOOL: THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS BASED ON THE STATE GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND INCLUDES ART, BIBLE/RELIGION, CHOIR, COMPUTERS, ECONOMICS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, FINE ARTS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE, KEYBOARDING, MATHEMATICS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SCIENCE (INCLUDING LIFE SCIENCE, EARTH SCIENCE, PHYSICAL SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS), SOCIAL SCIENCES (INCLUDING CAREERS, ECONOMICS, GEOGRAPHY, PERSONAL FINANCE, PSYCHOLOGY, WORLD HISTORY, U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT), AND YEARBOOK. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN OCCASIONAL FIELD TRIPS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM. SECONDARY TEACHERS TEACH ALL SUBJECTS FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE.
  2. $253,462 spent. STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND AUXILIARY PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE STUDENT PROGRAMS AS A PART OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. PERFORMING ARTS (MUSIC, BAND AND DRAMA) AND ALSO FINE ART WHERE STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO BASIC ART SKILLS AND MATERIALS USING A VARIETY OF MEDIA. THE SCHOOL ALSO PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A LUNCH AND BUSSING PROGRAM TO HELP ENRICH THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. EXTENDED CARE: OFFERS BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED TO DROP STUDENTS OFF EARLY IN THE MORNING OR PICK THEM UP LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.ATHLETIC PROGRAMS: COLUMBIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS, WHICH WE BELIEVE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO THE EXPERIENCE STUDENTS HAVE IN SCHOOL BEYOND THE REGULAR DAY. BEING ACTIVE PROMOTES GOOD HEALTH, GOOD SELF-ESTEEM AND LEARNING TO WORK WITH OTHERS IN A TEAM CONCEPT. AT COLUMBIA, WE EMPHASIZE GROWTH IN CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, HUMILITY AND SPORTSMANSHIP - WHETHER ON THE PLAYING FIELD OR IN THE CLASSROOM.

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 July 1994.

    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.

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