Accolades
Donate to SEO with Confidence
Charity Navigator has awarded SEO a four-star rating - our 11th consecutive, and the highest rating possible. Our rating speaks to our fiscal responsibility, transparency, and measurable impact, helping thousands of underserved young people on their path to college and career success.
Because of our level of financial stability and accountability, charitable givers and social investors can feel more confident in supporting SEO and the level of impact their contribution will have.
Learn about our accolades below and see how far your contribution can go to help propel human potential.
Charity Navigator: Four-Star Rating (2011 - Present)
SEO earned its 11th consecutive four-star rating, the highest rating available.
Charity Navigator: Perfect 100 Point Rating (2017 - 2018)
America’s premier charity evaluator awarded SEO with a perfect rating.
Less than 1% of rated charities have earned perfect scores, with SEO being one of only four education organizations to do so.
Independent Evaluation by Policy Studies Associates, Inc. (2014)
An independent study proves that SEO Scholars successfully closes the achievement gap. Program participants either outscored or matched all national test-takers on the SAT composite score, including white test-takers, test-takers of the same GPA band, and test-takers of the same ethnicity.
S&I 100 / Social Impact Exchange (2013-Present)
SEO has been named one of America’s top 100 nonprofits on this first-ever broad index of U.S. nonprofits. Each organization featured has been rigorously screened for proof of impact and ability to expand.
Root Cause’s Highest Rating (2014-2016)
SEO Scholars earned 47 out of 50 points in Program Performance and Organizational Health from independent analysts at Root Cause. Root Cause analyzed peer performance in the category of College Access and Success, and stated that SEO Scholars has a distinctive program model, strong college-going culture, is the most data-driven organization, and has a robust organizational infrastructure.
GuideStar Exchange (2012-Present)
SEO earned the GuideStar Exchange Seal, demonstrating our commitment to transparency.
Grant Winner, “Effective Philanthropy in Urban Communities” (2013)
In a competition of137 non-profits in the Education sector, Columbia Business School students researched, evaluated and selected SEO Scholars as the top non-profit in the Education category and the top nonprofit across all five eligible categories.
The Giving Library (2013)
SEO Scholars was selected to be featured on the Giving Library, an online video archive launched by The Laura and John Arnold Foundation that connects donors to nonprofits. In the video series, SEO’s President & CEO makes the case for why SEO Scholars is an excellent program to support.
College Board Innovation Award Winner (2011)
SEO received the Collage Board Innovation Award for college preparatory programs in the Middle States Region.
