Upward Scholars provides adult immigrants the boost they need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development support.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
64¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 251 volunteers and 9 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $104K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
64%
of spending
Worth a look: 64% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$256K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $707K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
17
named funders · $717K
Looks good: 17 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$52K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 18 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 18 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.5M
+34% vs prior year
Spent
$1.6M
To programs
64%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$708K
FY2021$957K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.7M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.5M
Expenses
$1.6M
FY2025▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$523K
FY2021$777K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.3M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$1.2M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$686K
FY2021$866K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$1.2M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

64 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 64% · $1.0M Management & general 20% · $331K Fundraising 16% · $267K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $256K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Programs Director
$103,186Pt VII · Sec A
Ops&fin Manager
$101,950Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Dir.
$35,370Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Dir.
$15,278Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Diana Viscarra’s $103K as Programs Director is at the 34th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Linda Prieto$35,370$178,938$171,833$139,138$138,332$131,498
Diana Viscarra$103,186—————
Marta Dugarte$101,950—————
Anna Dyer$15,278—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Upward Scholars executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Helps low-income adults, especially immigrants, continue education for better jobs and to inspire their children.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $916K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Career Development

Career development programs, including vocational and entrepreneurship pathways, help students build workforce skills, complete career training, and advance toward sustainable employment and economic mobility in fields such as early childhood education, business, healthcare, and other high-demand sectors.

$518Kprogram expense
02

Financial Support

Upward Scholars provides financial support to help students overcome economic barriers that may interfere with their education, career training, and persistence toward degree or certificate completion.

$244Kprogram expense
03

Holistic Support

Upward Scholars provides holistic support services that build on the resilience and strengths of students as they pursue educational, career, and personal goals. Services support students mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual wellbeing and include resource navigation and referrals, emotional and spiritual counseling, support…

$153Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 17 funders →
Grants paid · 16 grants · $1.1M · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$71,669
Unitemized GrantFY2025$31,500
Unitemized GrantFY2025$28,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$123,239
Unitemized GrantFY2024$32,493
Unitemized GrantFY2023$184,447
Unitemized GrantFY2023$27,000
Unitemized GrantFY2023$25,133
Unitemized GrantFY2022$217,900
Unitemized GrantFY2022$38,783
Unitemized GrantFY2022$13,980
Unitemized GrantFY2021$168,015
Unitemized GrantFY2021$39,325
Unitemized GrantFY2021$11,500
Sequoia Adult SchoolFY2021$6,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$88,788

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$73K
Investment incomeLn 3$39K
Money outPt IX
$1.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.0M
Managementcol C$331K
Fundraisingcol D$267K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$225K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$52K
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a18
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$264K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$28K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$73K
Investment incomeLn 3$39K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$1.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$225K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$225K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$707K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$52K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
VolunteersI 6251
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$226K$225K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.0M$707K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$56K$52K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$237K$237K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$55K$29K$11K$16K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$452K$405K$20K$27K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$11K$10K$332$923
Other employee benefitsLn 9$55K$46K$6K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$50K$34K$12K$4K
Management feesLn 11a$220K$44K$88K$88K
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$19K$19K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$121K$121K
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$307K$174K$133K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$311$1K
Office expensesLn 13$66K$46K$13K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$26K$23K$2K$2K
TravelLn 17$1K$818$500
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$3K$527$6K−$4K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$18K$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.6M$1.0M$331K$267K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.5M$1.6M−$101K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.2M$1.3M−$158K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.7M$1.3M$367K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$1.0M$150K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $957K$777K$180K$866K 990 PDF
FY2020 $708K$523K$186K$686K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,545,192 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,084,149$1,433,454
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $36,542$73,137
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $31,867$38,601
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,152,558$1,545,192
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $288,957$237,043
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $760,974$623,989
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $100,181$121,044
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $160,787$664,481
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,310,899$1,646,557
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$158,341−$101,365
Part VI · Governance 18 of 18 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body18
VI-1b Independent voting members18
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,545,192 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$263,651
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,169,803
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$28,358
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,433,454
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $73,137$73,137
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $38,601$38,601
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $73,137 · Excluded from tax $38,601$1,545,192
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,646,557 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $237,043$237,043
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $28,595 · Management $10,674 · Fundraising $16,011$55,280
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $405,178 · Management $19,988 · Fundraising $27,161$452,327
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,774 · Management $332 · Fundraising $923$11,029
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $46,127 · Management $5,660 · Fundraising $3,365$55,152
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $34,361 · Management $12,271 · Fundraising $3,569$50,201
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $44,000 · Management $88,000 · Fundraising $88,000$220,000
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $19,200$19,200
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $121,044$121,044
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $174,281 · Management $132,553$306,834
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $311 · Fundraising $1,040$1,351
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $45,560 · Management $12,946 · Fundraising $7,351$65,857
IX-14 Information technology$0
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $22,554 · Management $1,578 · Fundraising $2,219$26,351
IX-17 TravelManagement $818 · Fundraising $500$1,318
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $527 · Management $6,451 · Fundraising −$3,723$3,255
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,881$1,881
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $18,434$18,434
IX-24e All other expenses$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,048,000 · Management $331,097 · Fundraising $267,460$1,646,557
Part X · Balance sheet $1,202,197 assets, 19 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $225,801$225,176
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $50,957$257,665
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $14,865$12,249
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,881$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,006,951$707,107
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,300,455$1,202,197
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $56,008$51,918
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $56,008$51,918
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $932,159$866,889
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $312,288$283,390
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,244,447$1,150,279
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,300,455$1,202,197
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,150,279 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,545,192
XI-2 Total expenses$1,646,557
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$101,365
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,244,447
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$7,197
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,150,279

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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