College Bound Opportunities
College Bound Opportunities consistently spends more than it earns, leading to recurring deficits and negative net assets.
EIN: 204811544 · Highland Park, IL · NTEE: B82 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is College Bound Opportunities Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
College Bound Opportunities directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About College Bound Opportunities
College Bound Opportunities (EIN: 204811544) is a nonprofit organization based in Highland Park, IL, classified under NTEE code B82. The organization reported total revenue of $1.1M and total assets of $1.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of College Bound Opportunities's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates College Bound Opportunities with a Mission Score of 70 out of 100 (Good). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, College Bound Opportunities allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation has consistently been reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission and high transparency regarding leadership compensation.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of College Bound Opportunities's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operational deficits (e.g., $129,171 in 2023, $223,173 in 2022)
- Liabilities consistently exceed assets, resulting in negative net assets (e.g., $2,161,114 liabilities vs. $1,639,612 assets in 2023)
- Declining asset base in recent years (from $1,958,293 in 2021 to $1,639,612 in 2023)
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for College Bound Opportunities:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating high transparency and dedication of funds to mission
- Stable revenue generation, consistently over $1 million in recent years
- Long operational history with 13 filings, suggesting established presence
Frequently Asked Questions about College Bound Opportunities
Is College Bound Opportunities a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, College Bound Opportunities (EIN: 204811544) some concerns. Mission Score: 70/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does College Bound Opportunities spend its money?
College Bound Opportunities directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to College Bound Opportunities tax-deductible?
College Bound Opportunities is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 204811544). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is College Bound Opportunities a good charity?
College Bound Opportunities demonstrates a strong commitment to its mission, evidenced by 0% officer compensation and likely high program spending. However, the consistent operational deficits (e.g., $129,171 in 2023) and negative net assets (e.g., liabilities exceeding assets by $521,502 in 2023) are significant financial concerns that warrant further investigation by potential donors.
Why are liabilities consistently higher than assets?
The filings show liabilities consistently exceeding assets, for example, $2,161,114 in liabilities versus $1,639,612 in assets in 2023. This indicates a negative net asset position, which could be due to various factors such as deferred revenue, program-related investments, or other long-term obligations. Further detail from the full IRS 990 is needed to understand the composition of these liabilities.
How does the organization cover its operational deficits?
With expenses exceeding revenue in most recent years (e.g., $1,146,130 expenses vs. $1,016,959 revenue in 2023), the organization is incurring operational deficits. These deficits might be covered by drawing down reserves, utilizing restricted funds, or through other non-operating income sources not immediately apparent in the summary data. This trend is not sustainable long-term without a change in financial strategy.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for College Bound Opportunities showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), College Bound Opportunities's revenue has grown by 77.8%, moving from $572K to $1.0M. Total assets increased by 108.5% over the same period, from $786K to $1.6M. Total functional expenses rose by 190.7%, from $394K to $1.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), College Bound Opportunities reported a deficit of $129K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $2.2M in liabilities against $1.6M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 131.8%), resulting in net assets of $-521,502.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.0M | $1.1M | $1.6M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.1M | $1.3M | $1.8M | $2.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $2.0M | $2.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.0M | $1.2M | $1.9M | $1.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.0M | $1.2M | $1.9M | $1.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.2M | $1.2M | $1.9M | $1.6M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $924K | $947K | $1.8M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $975K | $845K | $1.6M | $1.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $872K | $676K | $1.4M | $597K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $749K | $624K | $1.2M | $515K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $617K | $622K | $1.0M | $410K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $655K | $520K | $974K | $343K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $572K | $394K | $786K | $291K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -3.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -6.2% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $2.0M (revenue +9.3% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -0.3% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue -10.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +24.6% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $924K, expenses of $947K, and assets of $1.8M (revenue -5.2% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $975K, expenses of $845K, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +11.8% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $872K, expenses of $676K, and assets of $1.4M (revenue +16.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $749K, expenses of $624K, and assets of $1.2M (revenue +21.4% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $617K, expenses of $622K, and assets of $1.0M (revenue -5.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $655K, expenses of $520K, and assets of $974K (revenue +14.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $572K, expenses of $394K, and assets of $786K.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for College Bound Opportunities is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.