Accel
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC, BEHAVIORAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, TO GIVE THEM THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO LEARN, TO WORK AND TO LIVE SUCCESSFULLY WITH DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE.
- Income
- $22.0 million
- Spending
- $25.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -7.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 96%
- Employees
- 572
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $395,878, 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: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 101% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 85 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 255 of 6 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 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)
- $14.1 million spent. ACCEL OPERATES SCHOOL PROGRAMS LOCATED IN PHOENIX AND TEMPE AS WELL AS SATELLITE CLASSROOMS ON ARIZONA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT CAMPUSES. ALL PROGRAMS INCORPORATE INNOVATIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED, EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICES IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURED TEACHING.STUDENTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITIES ARE TAUGHT USING A FUNCTIONAL LIFE SKILLS CURRICULUM ALIGNED WITH ARIZONA ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN SMALL SIZED CLASSROOMS WITH A LOW STUDENT TO STAFF RATIO FOCUSING ON DIGNITY, INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY SKILLS.
- $3.6 million spent. ACCEL ADULT SERVICES WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE ADULTS WITH FUNCTIONAL DISABILITIES AGES 18 AND OLDER, AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT SKILLS THROUGH PRACTICAL, "HANDS ON", TRAINING EXPERIENCES IN CREATIVE, ENTERPRISE-BASED BUSINESSES SUCH AS HAT MAKING, SCREEN PRINTING AND MANAGING A COFFEE SHOP, AND IN CLASSES THAT REINFORCE THESE SKILLS. ADULTS RECEIVE LIFELONG TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AFFIRMING THEIR SELF-WORTH AND ENABLING THEM TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY.
- $5.0 million spent. ACCEL BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, ACCEL'S BISTA CENTER OFFERS INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES AT LOCAL CLINICS, HOMES AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE STAFF AT BISTA HAVE EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, INCLUDING THOSE DIAGNOSED WITH ASPERGER'S SYNDROME AND PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER - NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PPD-NOS). THE STAFF ALSO SPECIALIZES IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH OTHER DISABILITIES. BISTA PROVIDES FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS, ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS AND SPEECH SERVICES.
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 July 1980.
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.