Pencils of Promise
Builds schools and increases access to quality education for children in developing countries.
At a glance
Rating and filings checked Oct 12, 2026. Sources: Charity Navigator, IRS Form 990 via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. How we check
Is Pencils of Promise a good charity?
Charity Navigator rates Pencils of Promise 3 out of 4 stars (82%) — a solid rating, one step below its top tier. Its 2023 Form 990 reports $3.5M in revenue, down 48% from $6.6M in 2019, and $3.9M in expenses. Rating checked Oct 12, 2026.
Finances
From Pencils of Promise's annual IRS Form 990 filings (filed as Pencils Of Promise Incorporated).
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Officer & key staff pay | Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.5M | $3.9M | $1.8M | $311K | 990 PDF |
| 2022 | $5.4M | $5.8M | $2.2M | $647K | 990 PDF |
| 2021 | $5.0M | $6.8M | $2.6M | $304K | 990 PDF |
| 2020 | $5.4M | $5.4M | $4.4M | $429K | 990 PDF |
| 2019 | $6.6M | $7.0M | $4.7M | $308K | 990 PDF |
A newer filing for 2024 is out but not yet summarized: read the 2024 Form 990 (PDF).
Officer & key staff pay is the 990's total for current officers, directors, trustees and key employees, not one salary.
What charities in education & literacy do
Education nonprofits operate across school infrastructure, teacher training, learning materials, scholarships, and policy advocacy. The most effective international education charities concentrate on a few high-leverage interventions — teacher training, structured curriculum, formative assessment — backed by randomized evidence. US-focused groups span charter networks, after-school programs, college-access advisors, and adult-literacy initiatives. Funding supports staff, training, materials, scholarships, and facility development.
How to judge charities in this area
Look for outcome data: learning gains measured by standardized assessments, graduation rates, college persistence. Strong education charities use comparison-group methodology to demonstrate their programs cause improved outcomes. Pratham, Room to Read, and Teach For All have published independent evaluations — that level of transparency is the gold standard.
How to support beyond a one-time gift
- + Recurring monthly gifts let organizations plan multi-year teacher-training cohorts and scholarship commitments
- + Sponsor specific programs (a scholarship, a teacher cohort) rather than individuals for cleaner accountability
- + Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or college-access advisor — most nonprofits in this space rely on volunteer support
- + Donate professional skills (career mentoring, mock interviews, college essay coaching)
- + Advocate for evidence-based education policy in your local school district
Verify before you give
A few minutes of independent verification pays off — especially for larger gifts. These resources let you confirm the details on Pencils of Promise:
Frequently asked
Is Pencils of Promise a good charity?
What is Pencils of Promise's Charity Navigator rating?
What is Pencils of Promise's EIN?
How much money does Pencils of Promise raise and spend?
Are donations to Pencils of Promise tax-deductible?
Represent Pencils of Promise? Add a free, self-updating rating badge to your website →