College Success Foundation
College Success Foundation reported $27.7 million in revenue and $27.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.19 went to program services, $13.73 to management and general costs and $6.08 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 51.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $265,852 (CEO(term 6/25)). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 93% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $27MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $28MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.7% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.1% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 45.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 51.7% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $265,852 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.97% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 8.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseScholarships and College Programs: CSF seeks to reduce financial barriers low-income students face by awarding scholarships and providing student support throughout college. Through June 30, 2025, CSF has awarded 20,647 scholarships to 20,029 students, totaling more than $257 million. To date, 14,299 graduates have received a degree. CSF designs and markets scholarship application materials, develops selection processes, and creates scoring rubrics that consider variables required by the funder and includes traditional and non-traditional selection criteria. CSF tracks its scholarship awards…
College Readiness Programs: CSF provides career and college awareness and support from 9th grade through high school graduation. CSF also works with the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), school districts, and other college access providers to ensure low-income 7th and 8th graders are aware of Washington States College Bound Scholarship. Our staff is school-based and work in close collaboration with teachers and guidance counselors. CSF offers workshops on the financial aid process, academic planning, college admissions process, and social networking skills
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO(term 6/25) Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $244,026 | $0 | $21,826 | $265,852 |
| CEO(hired 6/25) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,724 | $0 | $23,083 | $245,807 |
| VP of Operation Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,242 | $0 | $18,106 | $200,348 |
| VP of Strategy Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,325 | $0 | $19,423 | $185,748 |
| VP of Programs Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,634 | $0 | $17,170 | $184,804 |
| AVP, R&E Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,442 | $0 | $24,186 | $177,628 |
| Comm Dir. Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $141,798 | $0 | $16,008 | $157,806 |
| PA Dir. Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,241 | $0 | $7,984 | $153,225 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from College Success Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b28 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5204
- Volunteers Part I, line 650
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Cross Sector Impact LLC Career Connect materials | $158,222 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
39 private foundations reported grants to College Success Foundation totaling $1.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from College Success Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for College Success Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 College Success Foundation spent in FY2025, $80.19 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Washington Adventist UniversityTakoma Park, MD · revenue $28M · programs 55.1% · FY2025
- Greenhills SchoolAnn Arbor, MI · revenue $28M · programs 70.7% · FY2025
- University of Southern Mississippi FoundationHattiesburg, MS · revenue $28M · programs 82.9% · FY2025
- Mitchell CollegeNew London, CT · revenue $28M · programs 62.7% · FY2025
- Portledge SchoolLocust Valley, NY · revenue $28M · programs 78.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of College Success Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, College Success Foundation reported that 80.2% of its $27.5 million in expenses went to program services, 13.7% to management and general and 6.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does College Success Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation College Success Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $265,852, for the role of CEO(term 6/25) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does College Success Foundation get its money?
Of $27.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 45.2% came from contributions and grants and 51.7% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is College Success Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 91-2036088 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202641349349307649 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511329349306361 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421289349303622 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311319349307166 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221229349301747 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131319349304148 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 91-2036088: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.