Aim High for High School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO INCREASE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY BY PROVIDING JOYFUL, ENRICHING LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, ASPIRING TEACHERS, AND EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS.
- Income
- $6.2 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 64%
- Reserves
- 21.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 332
- Volunteers
- 55
- Highest pay
- $300,000, former ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 21.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1564% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $3.7 million spent. SUMMER PROGRAM - THE NO-COST PROGRAM IS A FIVE-WEEK ACADEMIC AND SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE CULTIVATE SPACES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE, EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO BE RESILIENT, AND INSPIRE CURIOSITY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. STUDENTS ENGAGE IN AN INNOVATIVE MIX OF STEM, HUMANITIES AND ISSUES AND CHOICES. WE PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL READINESS AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING CAREER PANELS, COLLEGE VISITS, AND CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES TO HELP THEM ENVISION THEIR FUTURE. IN 2024, AIM HIGH ENROLLED 1854 STUDENTS ACROSS 16 SITES.
- $472,693 spent. ASPIRING TEACHER PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS EMPHASIZING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES GROUNDED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE. TEACHER DEVELOPMENT SKILLS IN PROJECT-BASED LEARNING LESSONS, CREATING A SAFE AND ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, SERVING THE NEEDS OF MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS, AND ENHANCING LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH CULTURALLY RELEVANT LITERATURE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH WITH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE CAREERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.