2025-10-01T20:22:12+00:00 2024-12-31 350921680 CROWE LLP 225 West Wacker Drive Suite 2600 Chicago IL 606061224 990 2024-01-01 264789471 Complete College America Inc COMP 3178290483 350 Massachusetts Ave Suite 350 Indianapolis IN 46204 Yolanda Watson Spiva President 3178290483 2025-10-02 true Jennifer Burke P01342224 3128997000 2025-10-02 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Yolanda Watson Spiva 350 Massachusetts Ave Suite 350 Indianapolis IN 46204 15846709 false X www.completecollege.org X 2009 IN Complete College America is a national non-profit organization working with states to significantly improve college completion and to close attainment gaps for underrepresented populations. 9 8 20 10 0 6603783 14233383 834538 770158 278364 579159 129698 264009 7846383 15846709 125000 221725 0 2830334 3210224 36000 101672 4700654 5599509 7655988 9067458 190395 6779251 16748034 23091229 1790244 1256838 14957790 21834391 Complete College America is a national non-profit organization working with states to significantly improve college completion and to close attainment gaps for underrepresented populations. false false 8597677 221725 1034167 Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions. We envision a nation in which postsecondary institutions, policymakers, and systems of higher education welcome, invest in, and support students through and to on-time completion so that every student-regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or familial educational achievement- has equal opportunity to access and complete a college education or credential of value. To turn this vision into reality, we work to shift policy, perspective, and practice through both systemic and institutional change. Specifically, CCA drives systemic change that leads to better college completion rates; more equitable outcomes; and greater economic and social mobility, especially for historically excluded students. CCA operates at the federal, state, and institutional levels and works with its national network of forward-thinking state and higher education leaders. In 2024, CCA scaled proven strategies through major initiatives like the new Complete College Accelerator, which is working closely with more than 100 institutions across 18 states. We also released our latest publications, including: Ending Unfunded Mandates in Higher Education, which reimagines funding models to better support institutional transformation; Attainment with AI, CCA's playbook that offers specific steps for using the technology to scale strategies that increase college attainment; and The AI Divide, a paper on AI and equity in higher education that lays out the role of the CCA Council on Equitable AI. Since its founding in 2009, CCA has grown from an alliance of 17 states to 51 members spanning states, systems, and consortia. Through this nationwide network, CCA has supported hundreds of institutions in increasing their completion rates and boosting the number of skilled college graduates ready to support the nation's growing economy. 8597677 true true false true false false false false false false false true false false false true true false false false false false false true false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 106 0 true 20 true false false false false false false false false false false false false X 9 8 false true false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true true true false false IN X Yolanda Watson Spiva 3178290483 350 Massachusetts Ave Suite 350 Indianapolis IN 46204 Barbara Damron Treasurer 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Robin Martin Board Chair 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Vistasp Karbhari Vice Chair 1.0 X X 0 0 0 Yolanda Watson Spiva President 40.0 X X 458433 0 69130 Adrian Haugabrook Director 1.0 X 0 0 0 Bevelyn Coleman Director 1.0 X 0 0 0 Edward Smith Director 1.0 X 0 0 0 Estela Bensimon Director 1.0 X 0 0 0 Landon Pirius Director (Beg 03/28/2024) 1.0 X 0 0 0 Lorenzo Esters Director (Thru 12/02/2024) 1.0 X 0 0 0 Maggie George Director (Thru 05/02/2024) 1.0 X 0 0 0 Bob Bauman Secretary 1.0 X 0 0 0 Steve Robertson CFO (See Sch. O) 40.0 X 0 0 0 Brandon Protas Assistant VP for Alliance Engagement 40.0 X 114681 0 13725 Charles Ansell VP for Research, Policy, and Advocacy 40.0 X 188841 0 45959 Dhanfu Elston Chief of Staff & Senior VP of Strategy 40.0 X 235748 0 63293 Dorothy Styles VP for Operations and Organizational Development 40.0 X 153450 0 28249 Nia Haydel VP for Institutional Transformation & Scaling 40.0 X 190733 0 56154 1341886 0 276510 7 false true false 0 14233383 14233383 Conference Income 611710 637658 637658 Consulting Services 541610 132500 132500 0 0 0 0 770158 579159 579159 0 0 0 0 0 Employee retention tax credit 900099 97794 97794 Miscellaneous Income 900099 166215 166215 0 0 0 0 264009 15846709 1034167 0 579159 X 221725 221725 527562 474806 42205 10551 2101363 1891227 168109 42027 238355 214520 19068 4767 173111 155800 13849 3462 169833 152849 13587 3397 32289 32289 155031 49610 105421 150000 150000 36000 36000 2257159 2257159 0 0 501348 501348 100661 97855 2245 561 401654 401561 74 19 44384 39945 3551 888 762959 762959 1104915 1104915 19887 19887 membership & dues 36320 36320 miscellaneous expense 16517 16517 Internships 9000 9000 Contribution Expense 7385 7385 0 0 0 0 9067458 8597677 368109 101672 12491033 19192002 1058899 302160 0 0 0 0 54321 355936 0 0 0 0 3143781 3241131 0 0 0 16748034 23091229 1790244 760505 0 496333 0 0 0 0 1790244 1256838 X 6230361 7899026 8727429 13935365 14957790 21834391 16748034 23091229 6779251 97350 0 X false true true false X 1944205 8088948 11737417 6603783 14233383 42607736 0 0 1944205 8088948 11737417 6603783 14233383 42607736 31632598 10975138 14858 0 0 278364 579159 872381 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 129698 264009 393707 43873824 2027131 0.25015 0.29723 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 17a 10% FACTS & CIRCUMSTANCES TEST - 2024 TREAS. REGS. SECTION 1.170A-9(F)(3)(I) PROVIDES THAT IN ORDER TO MEET THE "FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES" TEST, THE ORGANIZATION MUST NORMALLY RECEIVE SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT (MORE THAN 10%) FROM CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GOVERNMENTAL UNITS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, OR A COMBINATION OF THESE SOURCES. COMPLETE COLLEGE HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 24.41% IN PUBLIC SUPPORT, SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE 10% THRESHOLD. IN ADDITION TO THE 10% THRESHOLD TEST, TREAS. REGS. SECTION 1.170A-9(F)(3)(II) PROVIDES THAT THE ORGANIZATION MUST BE ORGANIZED AND OPERATED SO AS TO ATTRACT NEW AND ADDITIONAL PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. AN ORGANIZATION WILL MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IF IT: -MAINTAINS A CONTINUOUS AND BONA FIDE PROGRAM FOR THE SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, OR -IT CARRIES ON ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR 509(A)(1) CHARITIES. COMPLETE COLLEGE AMERICA SATISFIES BOTH TESTS. IT MAINTAINS A CONTINUOUS AND BONA FIDE PROGRAM FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC AND CARRIES ON THE TYPE OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ATTRACT SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS IS EVIDENCED BY THE SIGNIFICANT STATE GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT WITH COMPLETE COLLEGE AMERICA IN ITS "COMPLETION PROGRAM". Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Other Income DESCRIPTION - OTHER INCOME, COLUMN A - 0.0, COLUMN B - 0.0, COLUMN C - 0.0, COLUMN D - 129698.0, COLUMN E - 264009.0, COLUMN F - 393707.0; RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false false false false false false false true 150000 150000 false Schedule C, Part II-B, Line 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE LOBBYING ACTIVITY Complete College of America (CCA) engages government affairs representation for lobbying and other public policy advocacy activities at the federal level (within the limits set by IRS regulations) on issues that are related to CCA's mission including reforming the postsecondary education system to produce more equitable outcomes for all students. These activities include working with decision makers and stakeholders who influence policy in the legislative and executive branches, actively monitoring policy issues, drafting federal policy position papers, drafting bill and report language to ensure CCA's position is accurately reflected in relevant bills, drafting regulatory comments, working to protect or increase critical funding streams that support CCA's mission and strategic priorities, communicating with relevant associations and other organizations about CCA's policy priorities, and positioning CCA to shape national and federal conversations on policy issues that will have a direct impact on CCA. 3241131 F 3241131 0 X 15944059 97350 0 97350 15846709 0 0 15846709 9067458 0 0 9067458 0 0 9067458 Schedule D, Part X, Line 2 FIN 48 (ASC 740) footnote CCA is a not-for-profit corporation, as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), and is exempt from federal income taxes on related income pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code. GAAP requires CCA to recognize a tax liability only if it is "more likely than not" that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the "more likely than not" test, no tax benefit will be recorded. CCA has examined this issue and determined there are no material contingent tax liabilities or questionable tax positions. CCA does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change in the next 12 months. CCA recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. CCA did not have any amounts accrued for interest and penalties at December 31, 2024 or 2023. X X X X true The Super Fundraiser 3939 Lavista Rd Suite E 244 Tucker GA 30084 Outsourced Development Services false 0 36000 -36000 0 36000 -36000 Schedule G, Part I, Line 2b(ii) Describe the custody or control arrangement. THE SUPER FUNDRAISER-ALL FUNDS ARE RECEIVED AND CONTROLLED BY EMPLOYEES OF COMPLETE COLLEGE AMERICA.; true Arkansas State University Mid-South 2000 West Broadway West Memphis AR 72301 710533838 GOVT- PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Baton Rouge Community College 201 Community College Dr Baton Rouge LA 70806 721334786 GOVT- PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support BISHOP STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 351 N Broad St Mobile AL 36603 630507477 GOVT- PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Campaign for College Opportunity 1149 S Hill St Los Angeles CA 90015 200427622 501(c)(3) 25000 Programmatic Support Chattahoochee Valley Community College 2602 College Dr Phenix City AL 36869 GOVT- PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Delgado Community College 615 City Park Ave New Orleans LA 70119 726012995 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Denmark Technical College 1126 Soloman Blatt Blvd Denmark SC 29042 570529056 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support EQUITYWORKS NW LLC 18416 Elaine Court SW Rochester WA 98579 830784001 9875 Programmatic Support Florence-Darlington Technical College 2715 West Lucas St Florence SC 29501 570424007 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support J F Drake State Community & Technical College 3421 Meridian St N Huntsville AL 35811 630439942 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support LAWSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3060 Wilson Road SW Birmingham AL 35221 630641064 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Northern Kentucky University 5320 Campus Dr Highland Heights KY 41099 611010545 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 5850 Programmatic Support Olive Harvey College 10001 S Woodlawn Ave Chicago IL 60628 362606236 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support ORANGEBURG-CALHOUN TECHNICAL COLLEGE 3250 St Matthews Rd Orangeburg SC 29118 570481987 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Roxbury Community College 1234 Columbus Ave Roxbury MA 02120 042726857 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Shelton State Community College 9500 Old Greensboro Rd Tuscaloosa AL 35405 636002149 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Southeast Arkansas College PO Box 1180 Pine Bluff AR 71613 716047504 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Southern University at Shreveport 3050 Martin Luther King Jr Dr Shreveport LA 71107 726000817 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10500 Programmatic Support Trenholm State Community College 1225 Air Base Blvd Montgomery AL 36108 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College 3000 West Scenic Dr North Little Rock AR 72118 710411512 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support Wallace Community College Selma 3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway Selma AL 36703 630600375 GOVT - PUBLIC SCHOOL 10000 Programmatic Support 20 1 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Procedures for monitoring use of grant funds CCA accepts grants to work on projects that further CCA's mission at specific institutions. Those specific institutions work closely with our staff to ensure they stay on track and deliverables are met on time. if the CCA employee has sufficient reason and evidence to believe that the institution will not fulfill its obligations, they will recommend to management to end the partnership with the specific institution. X X X X X false false false false false false false false false Yolanda Watson Spiva President 428433 0 30000 0 0 0 51912 0 17218 0 527563 0 0 0 Dhanfu Elston Chief of Staff & Senior VP of Strategy 235748 0 0 0 0 0 29952 0 33341 0 299041 0 0 0 Nia Haydel VP for Institutional Transformation & Scaling 190733 0 0 0 0 0 24336 0 31818 0 246887 0 0 0 Charles Ansell VP for Research, Policy, and Advocacy 183841 0 5000 0 0 0 22464 0 23495 0 234800 0 0 0 Dorothy Styles VP for Operations and Organizational Development 153450 0 0 0 0 0 18720 0 9529 0 181699 0 0 0 Form 990, Part VI, Line 1a Delegate broad authority to a committee THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BY RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY A MAJORITY OF THE DIRECTORS IN OFFICE, MAY DESIGNATE AND APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF TWO OR MORE DIRECTORS, WHICH, TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THE RESOLUTION, SHALL HAVE AND EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO SUCH COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN REFERENCE TO: - AMENDING, ALTERING OR REPEALING THE BYLAWS; - ELECTING, APPOINTING OR REMOVING ANY MEMBER OF ANY SUCH COMMITTEE OR ANY DIRECTOR OR OFFICER OF THE CORPORATION; - AMENDING THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION; - ADOPTING A PLAN OF MERGER OR ADOPTING A PLAN OF CONSOLIDATION WITH ANOTHER CORPORATION; - AUTHORIZING THE SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE OR MORTGAGE OF ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE PROPERTY AND ASSETS OF THE CORPORATION; - AUTHORIZING THE VOLUNTARY DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION OR REVOKING PROCEEDINGS THEREFOR; - ADOPTING A PLAN FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASSETS OF THE CORPORATION; OR AMENDING, ALTERING OR REPEALING ANY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH BY ITS TERMS PROVIDES THAT IT SHALL NOT BE AMENDED, ALTERED OR REPEALED BY THE COMMITTEE. THE APPOINTMENT OF ANY SUCH COMMITTEE AND THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY SHALL NOT OPERATE TO RELIEVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY IMPOSED UPON IT BY LAW. WHILE AVAILABLE, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DID NOT ACT ON ANY MATTERS IN 2024. Form 990, Part VI, Line 3 Delegation of management duties Steve Robertson, the organization's CFO, was hired through Escalon Services Inc, a finance and accounting services company. His total compensation for CFO services during 2024 was $54,000. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b Review of form 990 by governing body The form 990 is reviewed in detail by management. Then the form 990 is presented to the board and a copy of the final return is provided to every member of the governing body before it is filed with the IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c Conflict of interest policy Every member of the governing body and every officer is required annually to disclose any conflicts of interest and to sign a conflict of interest questionnaire. The questionnaires are reviewed in detail by the president and by the Vice President/Treasurer. If any conflicts of interest are disclosed, the individual with the potential or actual conflict of interest is required to abstain from voting on matters related to the conflict. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a Process to establish compensation of top management official The Board of Directors has appointed an executive compensation committee which is responsible for the review of the President's compensation. The compensation committee is made up of the independent members of the board. The committee uses comparability data and documents the deliberations and decisions in the committee minutes. The committee makes a recommendation to all independent members of the Board of Directors for approval. This process is done annually and was last undertaken in 2024. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15b Process to establish compensation of other employees The Board of Directors has appointed an executive compensation committee which is responsible for the review of the compensation of the president and all vice presidents. The compensation committee is made up of the independent members of the board. The committee uses comparability data and documents the deliberations and decisions in the committee minutes. The committee makes a recommendation to all independent members of the Board of Directors for approval. This process is done annually and was last undertaken in 2024. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 Required documents available to the public The organization's financial statements, conflict of interest policy, and governing documents are available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g Other Fees Technical Assistance and Research - Total Expense: 499491, Program Service Expense: 499491, Management and General Expenses: , Fundraising Expenses: ; Professional Development - Total Expense: 20208, Program Service Expense: 20208, Management and General Expenses: , Fundraising Expenses: ; Other Professional Fees - Total Expense: 1737460, Program Service Expense: 1737460, Management and General Expenses: , Fundraising Expenses: ;