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Rex and Margaret Fortune School of Education

EIN 94-3187528 · Sacramento, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO GRADUATE HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS OF GOOD CHARACTER PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CITIZENSHIP IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

Income
$52.2 million
Spending
$53.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-15.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
531
Volunteers
37
Highest pay
$343,668, president/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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 93% 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 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

    5 of 5 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 (3)
  1. $48.0 million spent. TK-12 CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATIONS: FORTUNE SCHOOL AND HARDY BROWN COLLEGE PREP ARE COLLEGE PREPARATORY CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO SERVE GRADES TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12. DURING 2024-25 FORTUNE SCHOOL SERVED STUDENTS IN GRADES TK-12 WHILE HARDY BROWN COLLEGE PREP SERVED STUDENTS IN GRADES TK-8. FOUNDED BY CIVIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, THE SCHOOLS ARE HIGH ACHIEVING AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS THAT SERVE PREDOMINATELY LOW INCOME, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS. WHILE THE FOCUS OF OUR TUITION FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. PRESCHOOL OPERATIONS: FORTUNE PRESCHOOL OPERATES IN TWO LOCATIONS, ELK GROVE AND SAN BERNARDINO, SERVING CHILDREN AGES 2 TO 5 YEARS OLD. THE SCHOOL IS INFLUENCED BY THE SCHOOLS IN REGGIO EMILIA, ITALY. THE APPROACH FOCUSES ON HOW CHILDREN LEARN, THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM, AND THE JOY CHILDREN EXPERIENCE FROM LEARNING.
  3. $639,341 spent. CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS: PRESERVICE PROGRAM - 150 CLOCK HOURS OF TRAINING IS PROVIDED PRIOR TO ENTERING THE CLASSROOM AS A TEACHER INTERN. THIS COURSEWORK IS A PRE-REQUISITE FOR THE DISTRICT INTERN PROGRAM. THE DISTRICT INTERN CREDENTIAL PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE PATH TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION FOR SINGLE SUBJECT - MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 7-12) GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, A MILD, MODERATE DISABILITIES LEVELS I & II CREDENTIAL FOR EDUCATION SPECIALIST TEACHERS, AND A MULTIPLE SUBJECT CREDENTIAL FOR GRADES K-8 TEACHERS IN SELF-CONTAINED CLASSES. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES TWO YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSEWORK COMPLETED ON WEEKENDS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE OF EACH YEAR WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TEACHING ON AN INTERN CREDENTIAL. THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM RESULTS IN THE CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CREDENTIAL OR CHARTER SCHOOL LEADER CERTIFICATE. THIS 1-YEAR INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON PRODUCING CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS WHO WILL DEVELOP AND LEAD HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS IN HIGH NEED AREAS. THE PK-3 ECE SPECIALIST INSTRUCTION CREDENTIAL IS IN DEVELOPMENT AND WILL PROVIDE A BRIDGE AND ACCELERATED PATHWAY FOR CURRENT MULTIPLE SUBJECT CREDENTIAL HOLDERS AS WELL AS CHILD DEVELOPMENT TEACHER PERMIT HOLDERS WITH A BA DEGREE TO EARN THE CREDENTIAL AND BEGIN SERVING IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN SETTINGS. FORTUNE MASTER'S PROGRAM EXPLORES THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, FOCUSING ON RESEARCH, POLICY, AND SOCIETAL ISSUES. GRADUATES WILL EARN A MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

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 September 1993.

    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.