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.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.0M 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

FY2024 · 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
65%
of spending
Fine: 65% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.0M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
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
$572K
23% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 23% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 24 voting members
Looks good: 22 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
$8.4M
+10% vs prior year
Spent
$8.3M
To programs
65%
Net assets
$1.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$8.4M
FY2024▲ +10%
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
$8.3M
FY2024▲ +22%
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
$1.9M
FY2024▲ +6%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 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

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $5.4M Management & general 30% · $2.5M Fundraising 4% · $366K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

31 people listed on the 990; $1.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Provost & VP of Lifelong Learn
$164,658Pt VII · Sec A
President
$160,094Pt VII · Sec A
Asst. VP of Comm. & Belonging
$125,795Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$121,316Pt VII · Sec A
Coord. of Growth/Philly Expan.
$116,996Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Financial Aid
$108,365Pt VII · Sec A
VP for Inst. & Student Sustain
$108,031Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Workplace World Lab
$103,909Pt 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.

See College Unbound executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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.

Questions for College Unbound

Tap to ask. College Unbound sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. College Unbound answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $5.4M · in their own filed words · FY2023
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.

$5.4Mprogram 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.5M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$8.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.4M
Managementcol C$2.5M
Fundraisingcol D$366K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$739K
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$572K
PeoplePt VI, VII
31
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a24
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.9M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$8.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$739K
SavingsLn 2$0
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$739K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$37K
Other assetsLn 15$190K
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$572K
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$873K$739K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$60K$37K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M$2.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$499K$572K
Net assetsLn 32$1.8M$1.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$109K$109K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.3M$1.3M
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$549K$318K$203K$27K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.2M$2.4M$1.5M$208K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$440K$255K$163K$22K
Payroll taxesLn 10$444K$258K$164K$22K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$21K$21K
Accounting feesLn 11c$35K$35K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$307K$83K$224K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$13K$9K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$0
Information technologyLn 14$48K$28K$18K$2K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$104K$61K$39K$5K
TravelLn 17$71K$4K$18K$49K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$32K$19K$12K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$10K$6K$846
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$540K$490K$45K$5K
All other expensesLn 24e$142K$91K$30K$22K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.3M$5.4M$2.5M$366K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $10.2M$8.1M$2.1M$4.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $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 $3.5M$2.9M$594K$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.4M$248K$962K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,424,432 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,772,522$3,941,358
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,901,469$4,481,459
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,062$1,615
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,676,053$8,424,432
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,498,301$1,376,034
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,222,767$5,601,510
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,114,685$1,331,056
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,835,753$8,308,600
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $840,300$115,832
Part VI · Governance 22 of 24 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body24
VI-1b Independent voting members22
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 $8,424,432 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,266,730
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,674,628
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,941,358
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,481,459$4,481,459
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,615$1,615
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 $4,481,459 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,615$8,424,432
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,308,600 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $108,869$108,869
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,267,165$1,267,165
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 $318,411 · Management $203,124 · Fundraising $27,450$548,985
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,417,886 · Management $1,542,445 · Fundraising $208,438$4,168,769
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $255,021 · Management $162,686 · Fundraising $21,984$439,691
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $257,558 · Management $164,304 · Fundraising $22,203$444,065
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $20,513$20,513
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $35,160$35,160
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $83,015 · Management $224,449$307,464
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $8,595 · Management $4,628$13,223
IX-13 Office expenses$0
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $27,984 · Management $17,851 · Fundraising $2,412$48,247
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $60,522 · Management $38,608 · Fundraising $5,217$104,347
IX-17 TravelPrograms $4,242 · Management $17,674 · Fundraising $48,779$70,695
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $18,772 · Management $11,975 · Fundraising $1,618$32,365
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,812 · Management $6,259 · Fundraising $846$16,917
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $489,955 · Management $44,857 · Fundraising $4,862$539,674
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $90,602 · Management $29,989 · Fundraising $21,860$142,451
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,418,409 · Management $2,524,522 · Fundraising $365,669$8,308,600
Part X · Balance sheet $2,484,560 assets, 24 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $873,397$739,199
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $636,222$840,076
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $614,506$666,370
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,754$12,000
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $60,209$36,759
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $84,862$190,156
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,295,950$2,484,560
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $357,101$245,947
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $57,493$136,131
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $84,862$190,156
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $499,456$572,234
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $424,818$326,189
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,371,676$1,586,137
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,796,494$1,912,326
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,295,950$2,484,560
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,912,326 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,424,432
XI-2 Total expenses$8,308,600
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$115,832
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,796,494
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,912,326

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.