Homework Central
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Homework Central is to foster academic success to low-income and disadvantaged elementary school children by providing free tutoring and family support services.
- Income
- $676,866
- Spending
- $612,085
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 89
- Highest pay
- $82,038, executive director
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
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 61% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 55% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
- $464,086 spent. During fiscal year 2024-2025, Homework Central delivered 30-34 weeks of support to serve nearly 200 registered elementary school-aged children and their families. Including the past year, Homework Central has served San Mateo children for twenty-seven years, helping them develop academic practices and habits, forge positive relationships with tutors and take greater ownership of their education and future. Homework Central has two primary activities: This first is an afterschool program that offers free tutoring and homework completion to students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged who, by teacher recommendation, would benefit from tutoring. In addition, a literacy program was introduced in 2022 to younger students. The tutoring and literacy content is provided in person by trained staff and volunteers in a small group setting. The program includes provision of snacks to all students every day of operation. The second activity is free family engagement events to provide school-related information, encourage and educate families or caregivers (many English as a Second Language households) to help their child's academic journey. This is done through Family Night events each quarter, which are bilingual, themed Literacy, Science, Art or End-of-Year events that include dinner, school-related information and fun activities, including book giveaways, to all children in the family. This year, Homework Central continued to provide its services, operating in four schools, nine classrooms total, in the San Mateo-Foster City School District. The hours of operation vary by site and range from 10 hours a week (two hours every day, Monday through Friday) to 17 hours of extended programming, from either 3pm or 1pm until 6 pm each school day. During the extended hours, collaborations with local organizations allow Homework Central to bring in Science, Art, Music and similar activities.
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
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 June 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 November 2001.
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.