Colorado Early Colleges
Colorado Early Colleges reports consistent operating deficits and liabilities exceeding assets despite significant revenue growth.
EIN: 205470086 · Fort Collins, CO · NTEE: B25 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Colorado Early Colleges Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Colorado Early Colleges directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Colorado Early Colleges
Colorado Early Colleges (EIN: 205470086) is a nonprofit organization based in Fort Collins, CO, classified under NTEE code B25. The organization reported total revenue of $75.8M and total assets of $165.4M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Colorado Early Colleges's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Colorado Early Colleges is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 19 years, with 14 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2024). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 26.1%.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $75.8M |
| Total Expenses | $77.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-1,160,407 |
| Total Assets | $165.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $208.7M |
| Net Assets | $-43,358,672 |
| Operating Margin | -1.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 126.2% |
| Months of Reserves | 25.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2024, Colorado Early Colleges reported a deficit of $1.2M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 25.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 126.2% (high leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 14 years of filings (2011–2024), Colorado Early Colleges's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.1%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +22.1% | +13.1% | +8.3% |
| 2023 | +23.2% | +49.3% | +402.3% |
| 2022 | +3.0% | +1.3% | -14.6% |
| 2021 | +50.8% | +4.9% | +11.8% |
| 2020 | +10.0% | +40.6% | +2.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2007 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Colorado Early Colleges with a Mission Score of 65 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: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Colorado Early Colleges allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2024)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $1.2M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 126.2%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no compensation is paid to officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, which is highly favorable for resource allocation to its mission.
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 Colorado Early Colleges's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent operating deficits (expenses exceeding revenue) in recent years, including a $1.1 million deficit in 2024.
- Liabilities ($208.7M in 2024) significantly exceed assets ($165.3M in 2024), indicating a negative net asset position.
- Rapid increase in liabilities from $51.7M in 2022 to $208.7M in 2024 without a proportional increase in assets to cover them.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Colorado Early Colleges:
- Significant revenue growth from $11.3M in 2015 to $75.8M in 2024, demonstrating strong operational scaling.
- Reports 0% officer compensation across all filings, indicating a commitment to directing funds away from executive pay.
- Focus on educational programs (NTEE B25) suggests a direct impact on community development.
Frequently Asked Questions about Colorado Early Colleges
Is Colorado Early Colleges a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Colorado Early Colleges (EIN: 205470086) some concerns. Mission Score: 65/100. 3 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Colorado Early Colleges spend its money?
Colorado Early Colleges directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Colorado Early Colleges tax-deductible?
Colorado Early Colleges is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205470086). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Colorado Early Colleges financially sustainable given its consistent operating deficits?
The organization has reported expenses exceeding revenue in several recent periods, including a $1.1 million deficit in 2024 ($76.9M expenses vs $75.8M revenue). This trend, coupled with liabilities significantly exceeding assets ($208.7M vs $165.3M in 2024), raises concerns about long-term financial sustainability without a clear strategy to reverse these trends.
Why are liabilities consistently higher than assets?
The consistent and growing disparity where liabilities ($208.7M in 2024) significantly outweigh assets ($165.3M in 2024) suggests a substantial reliance on debt financing, potentially for facility expansion or other long-term obligations. This negative net asset position indicates that the organization's debts exceed the value of its owned resources.
What is the primary source of the organization's revenue?
As an educational institution (NTEE B25), the primary source of revenue is typically public funding (e.g., state aid, local taxes) and tuition/fees. A detailed breakdown would require examining the full IRS 990, Part VIII, Statement of Revenue.
How does the 0% officer compensation impact the organization's operations?
The reported 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of this size and revenue. While it means more funds are theoretically available for programs, it could also indicate that key leadership roles are filled by volunteers or compensated through other entities, which would require further investigation for full transparency.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Colorado Early Colleges showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2024), Colorado Early Colleges's revenue has grown by 1932.2%, moving from $3.7M to $75.8M. Total assets increased by 8396.4% over the same period, from $1.9M to $165.4M. Total functional expenses rose by 2217.3%, from $3.3M to $77.0M. In its most recent filing year (2024), Colorado Early Colleges reported a deficit of $1.2M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $208.7M in liabilities against $165.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 126.2%), resulting in net assets of $-43,358,672.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $75.8M | $77.0M | $165.4M | $208.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2023 | $62.1M | $68.1M | $152.7M | $194.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $50.4M | $45.6M | $30.4M | $51.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $49.0M | $45.0M | $35.6M | $61.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $32.5M | $42.9M | $31.9M | $64.4M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $29.5M | $30.5M | $31.2M | $53.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $23.5M | $33.0M | $37.0M | $58.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $17.1M | $23.8M | $26.4M | $37.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $14.9M | $16.1M | $11.2M | $16.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $11.4M | $11.4M | $7.2M | $10.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $7.3M | $6.8M | $3.9M | $727K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $5.7M | $5.1M | $3.2M | $498K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $4.2M | $4.0M | $2.2M | $384K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $3.7M | $3.3M | $1.9M | $130K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2024: Revenue of $75.8M, expenses of $77.0M, and assets of $165.4M (revenue +22.1% year-over-year).
- 2023: Revenue of $62.1M, expenses of $68.1M, and assets of $152.7M (revenue +23.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $50.4M, expenses of $45.6M, and assets of $30.4M (revenue +3.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $49.0M, expenses of $45.0M, and assets of $35.6M (revenue +50.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $32.5M, expenses of $42.9M, and assets of $31.9M (revenue +10.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $29.5M, expenses of $30.5M, and assets of $31.2M (revenue +25.7% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $23.5M, expenses of $33.0M, and assets of $37.0M (revenue +37.3% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $17.1M, expenses of $23.8M, and assets of $26.4M (revenue +14.4% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $14.9M, expenses of $16.1M, and assets of $11.2M (revenue +31.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $11.4M, expenses of $11.4M, and assets of $7.2M (revenue +55.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $7.3M, expenses of $6.8M, and assets of $3.9M (revenue +28.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $5.7M, expenses of $5.1M, and assets of $3.2M (revenue +35.9% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $2.2M (revenue +12.1% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $3.7M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $1.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Colorado Early Colleges:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Colorado Early Colleges 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.