College unbound's mission is to reinvent higher education for underrepresented returning adult learners, using a model that is individualized, interest-based, project driven, workplace-enhanced, cohort-supported, flexible, supportive, and affordable.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$170K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $552K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$170K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $38K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$138K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
23
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 23 of 24 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
+34% vs prior year
Spent
$2.9M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2021▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$7.7M
FY2024$8.4M
FY2025$10.2M
Expenses
$2.9M
FY2021▲ +23%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.4M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$4.1M
FY2023$6.8M
FY2024$8.3M
FY2025$8.1M
Net assets
$1.6M
FY2021▲ +62%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$962K
FY2021$1.6M
FY2022$956K
FY2023$1.8M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$4.0M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2014.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $2.1M Management & general 22% · $640K Fundraising 6% · $164K

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

26 people listed on the 990; $170K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Vice President of Academic
$106,495Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President
$63,461Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sylvia Spears$162,921$164,658$164,658$160,175——
Adam Bush$147,683$160,094$160,094$123,344$106,495$113,037
Diana Perdomo$141,101$108,031$108,031———
Jose Rodriguez$140,776$125,795$125,795———
David Bromley$132,235$116,996$116,996$139,894——
Julia Rickert$136,858$121,316$121,316$109,759——
Allen Cowett$106,261$108,365$108,365$104,063——
Sage Morgan-Hubbard—$103,909$103,909———

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.

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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

Reinventing higher education for adults through individualized, project-driven learning.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.1M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

College unbound integrates the students' own purposes for learning with the needs of their workplaces and communities, improving the lives of the students and the lives of those they touch.

$2.1Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Lb FoundationFY2025$38K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$38K
Grants paid · 9 grants · $5.3M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,016,625
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,267,165
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,268,478
Peer 2 Peer University INCCA · FY2022$150,000
Equity InstituteFY2022$78,915
Unitemized GrantFY2021$411,621
Peer 2 Peer University INCCA · FY2021$135,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$381,482
Unitemized GrantFY2019$554,055

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Money outPt IX
$2.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.1M
Managementcol C$640K
Fundraisingcol D$164K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$138K
PeoplePt VI, VII
26
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$388K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$4K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$27K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$138K
Net assetsLn 32$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 553
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K$27K
Total assetsLn 16$1.4M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$480K$138K
Net assetsLn 32$962K$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$381K$381K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$324K$151K$173K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$969K$226K$118K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$265K$188K$58K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$149K$103K$35K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$10K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$84K$47K$36K$931
Office expensesLn 13$28K$15K$11K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$59K$36K$18K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$18K$8K$8K$2K
TravelLn 17$5K$238$953$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$11K$6K$2K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$9K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$187K$171K$16K
All other expensesLn 24e$21K$9K$11K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.9M$2.1M$640K$164K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $10.2M$8.1M$2.1M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $8.4M$8.3M$116K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.7M$6.8M$840K$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.5M$4.1M−$599K$956K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $3.5M$2.9M$594K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.4M$248K$962K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,483,486 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,396,917$2,008,334
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,195,753$1,470,960
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $6,015$4,192
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $856$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,599,541$3,483,486
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $554,055$381,482
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,418,027$2,050,845
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $379,032$457,422
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,351,114$2,889,749
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $248,427$593,737
Part VI · Governance 23 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members23
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 $3,483,486 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$387,814
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,620,520
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,008,334
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,470,960$1,470,960
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,192$4,192
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,470,960 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,192$3,483,486
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,889,749 across 16 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $381,482$381,482
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $150,957 · Management $172,858$323,815
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $968,949 · Management $225,534 · Fundraising $118,446$1,312,929
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $188,159 · Management $58,006 · Fundraising $18,460$264,625
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $103,312 · Management $35,447 · Fundraising $10,717$149,476
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $9,758$9,758
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $26,029$26,029
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $46,836 · Management $36,077 · Fundraising $931$83,844
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $15,294 · Management $11,147 · Fundraising $1,392$27,833
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $35,566 · Management $17,783 · Fundraising $5,928$59,277
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,315 · Management $7,945 · Fundraising $2,217$18,477
IX-17 TravelPrograms $238 · Management $953 · Fundraising $3,572$4,763
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,348 · Management $2,328 · Fundraising $1,904$10,580
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $9,390$9,390
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $171,036 · Management $15,763$186,799
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $9,359 · Management $11,313$20,672
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,085,851 · Management $640,331 · Fundraising $163,567$2,889,749
Part X · Balance sheet $1,692,870 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,188,056$1,492,395
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $185,000$140,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $33,573$27,310
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $20,496$6,087
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $14,732$27,078
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,441,857$1,692,870
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $76,552$99,701
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $156,126$37,853
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $247,600$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $480,278$137,554
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $627,386$645,451
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $334,193$909,865
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $961,579$1,555,316
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,441,857$1,692,870
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,555,316 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,483,486
XI-2 Total expenses$2,889,749
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$593,737
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$961,579
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,555,316

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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