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Center for the Collaborative Classroom

EIN 94-2311291 · Alameda, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP STUDENTS GROW AS READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS WHILE THEY DEVELOP THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO THRIVE. FOUNDED IN 1980, CENTER FOR THE COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM CONDUCTED SEMINAL RESEARCH ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. (SEE SCH O) COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM HAS EVOLVED INTO A PARTNER FOR SCHOOLS AND IS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING THE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING STUDENTS, AND EMPOWERING TEACHERS AS THEY ENGAGE STUDENTS. CENTER FOR THE COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM IS DEDICATED TO STUDENTS' GROWTH AS CRITICAL THINKERS WHO LEARN FROM, CARE FOR, AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.

Income
$20.9 million
Spending
$24.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
10.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 64%
Employees
128
Volunteers
14
Highest pay
$344,948, ceo/president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 15 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 October 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 (3)
  1. $19.6 million spent. THE CENTER FOR THE COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM PROVIDES A COMPLETE K6 LITERACY PROGRAM THAT GETS TO THE CORE OF WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE IN READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. OUR SUITE OF INTEGRATED LITERACY PROGRAMS EFFECTIVELY MOTIVATE ALL STUDENTS TO LEARN AND TO HELP ALL STUDENTS MASTER BASIC LITERACY SKILLS WHILE ALSO LEARNING TO THINK DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT THEY READ AND WRITE. IN ADDITION, OUR PROGRAMS FACILITATE STUDENTS' ACQUISITION OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND ETHICAL AND CARING DISPOSITIONS, AS A SEAMLESS PART OF ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION ESTABLISH CLASSROOM CONDITIONS IN WHICH ALL STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO FORM SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THEIR TEACHERS AND, IN THE PROCESS, EFFECTIVELY "BOND" TO THEIR SCHOOL, THEIR TEACHERS, AND THEIR PEERS.
  2. $362,318 spent. THE CENTER FOR THE COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM PROVIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AGES 35 THAT ARE INFORMED BY CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE AND WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US YOUNG CHILDREN NEED TO THRIVE AND BECOME KINDERGARTEN-READY. ALL OF OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD RESOURCES ALIGN WITH OUR K5 CURRICULA AND PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN SUCCESS.
  3. THE CARING SCHOOL COMMUNITY (CSC) PROGRAM IS AN APPROACH TO CREATING CARING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS' CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND ACADEMIC LEARNING BY BUILDING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS AND BY GUIDING STUDENTS' ETHICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS ACADEMIC GROWTH. CSC STRENGTHENS STUDENTS' CONNECTEDNESS TO SCHOOLAN IMPORTANT ELEMENT FOR INCREASING ACADEMIC MOTIVATION AND ACHIEVEMENT AND FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE AND DELINQUENCY. SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE CSC PROGRAM HAVE EXPERIENCED MEASUREABLE GAINS IN READING AND MATH SCORES AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS DISPLAY AN INCREASED LEVEL OF EMPATHY AND COOPERATION THAT CARRIES OVER INTO ACADEMICS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 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 October 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 April 1999.

    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.