MENLO PARK CA | IRS ruling year: 2014 | EIN: 47-1079440
An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
An EIN is a unique nine-digit number that identifies a business for tax purposes.
Rating Information
Not currently rated
Ratings are calculated from one or more beacon scores. Currently, we require either an Accountability & Finance beacon or an Impact assessment to be eligible for a Charity Navigator rating. Note: The absence of a rating does not indicate a positive or negative assessment; it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated this organization.
See rating report below to learn why this organization is not currently eligible.
Historical Ratings
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Measurement. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
Rating histories are available for a growing number of rated organizations. Check back later to see if this organization has a rating history!
So They Can cannot currently be evaluated by our Accountability & Finance methodology due to only having one year of electronically-filed IRS Form 990 data (990EZ, 990N, 990PF does not qualify).
To ensure year-to-year consistency the Encompass Rating System's Accountability & Finance beacon analyzes the three-year average of some data provided through the IRS form 990.
Charity Navigator currently only has one year of consecutive e-filed Forms 990 from the IRS for So They Can under the EIN: 47-1079440.
Before Charity Navigator can evaluate So They Can, So They Can will need to e-file for additional fiscal years.
Revenue and expense data is not available for this organization. This data is only available if this organization has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last six years.
Salary of Key Persons - No Data Available
No Data Available
Salary of Key Persons data is currently unavailable for this organization. This data is only available if this charity has at least one year of electronically-filed Form 990 data filed within the last 3 years. In some cases, there may be an electronically-filed 990 on file but the nonprofit may have not included the information and therefore we cannot post it.
IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage accountability and finance data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (So They Can) or EIN (471079440) in the 'Search Term' field.
Impact & Measurement
Score
98
This beacon estimates the actual impact a charity has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
The Measuring Outcomes assessment evaluates how well a charity tracks progress towards its mission's outcomes.
Displayed below are the responses provided by the charity for the Measuring Outcomes assessment. Each question is designed to address specific criteria, with responses eligible for full, partial, or no credit. Please refer to the scoring rubric for details on how responses are scored.
Selected program: Education Program, Submitted November 2025
Program Planning and Design
21 out of 21 points
This section assesses the use of crucial evaluation tools in program objective-setting and activities.
Charity leadership uses information collected to make decisions regarding programs
Agree, uses information collected to improve programs
Charity has shared understanding across staff of how programs lead to the goals a program achieves
Agree, has universal understanding of how programs achieve goals
Charity has documents and reviews how program activities lead to change
Agree, documents and reviews
Charity revisits how program activities lead to change
Agree, does revisit how program activities lead to change
Program Development
26 out of 28 points
This section assesses the consideration of stakeholders in program objectives and activities.
Charity identifies program target population needs in the following ways
Discussions or surveys with target population on how program activities best serve their needs
Discussions with local community groups, including local government or other community leaders
Charity considers practical, cultural, and political needs and interests of those served by program
Agree, charity is responsive to practical, cultural, and political needs
Charity uses SMART Goals
Agree, identified Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals
Data Collection and Analysis
21 out of 21 points
This section assesses the best practices used in collecting and analyzing program data.
Charity tracks program information in the following ways
Collects data before a program is initiated
Collects data during program implementation
Collects data when a program is complete
Charity collects programmatic information on those served by the program in the following ways
Identifies the number of those served by program
Collects demographic data of those served by program
Identifies the number of those successfully served by the program
Collects information about the quality of service from the target population
Charity assesses program effectiveness at multiple points in time
Agree, collects information before and after a program is implemented
Reporting and Distribution of Results
21 out of 21 points
This section assesses reporting and disseminating program results.
Charity reports program results to key stakeholders
Reports results to stakeholders
Charity reports both favorable and unfavorable results
Yes, charity reports both favorable of unfavorable results
Use of Results
10 out of 10 points
This section assesses the use of results to guide learning.
Charity uses program results to inform future work for the following reasons
Sustain and secure funding
Inform strategic planning
Improve program operations
Understand the impact of their work
Inform how we create future programs
Culture & Community
Not Currently Scored
So They Can cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission.
So They Can was founded in 2009 on the vision to change the future of children and communities living in poverty through education. We provide quality education in East Africa with improved learning conditions, teacher training, child development, and women’s empowerment through inclusive partnerships with communities and governments.
Our Education Program has reached 50,000 children and their families across 55 government primary and secondary schools in Kenya and Tanzania. Our complimentary Community Development Program has reached 23,800 community members through Child Wellbeing, Women's Empowerment and Community Health initiatives.
We apply a gender-focussed approach to reach girls, and women, who face disproportionate barriers in our partner communities. We Educate to Empower.
Vision Statement
10 out of 10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's vision.
End child poverty through quality education.
Strategic Goals
20 out of 20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: By 2030 sustain all 43 partner primary schools currently in So They Can's Education Program in Kenya and Tanzania. Schools will have moved through our 3-phase Sustainable Schools Model over 8 years to achieve improved education outcomes. Each school will have adequate infrastructure, resources, staff and capacity to continue delivering quality primary education for the longterm.
Goal Two: By 2031 scale So They Can's Education Program to 14 feeder secondary schools in Kenya and Tanzania. Children education in our partner primary schools, will have an education pathway to complete their secondary education. Through our partnership each secondary school will have adequate infrastructure, resources and capacity to deliver quality secondary education.
Leadership
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Investment in Leadership Development
15 out of 15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development.
Mentorship and Coaching Programs
Leadership Conferences and Networking Events
Formal Education and Certifications/Training Programs
Succession Planning
Cultural and Diversity Training
External Focus on Mobilizing Mission
15 out of 15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborative Engagement
Thought Leadership
Social Promotion
Civic Engagement
Public Policy Advocacy
Adaptability
30 out of 30 points
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No Credit
Adaptability Practices
30 out of 30 points
This charity implements the following practices:
Strategic Planning Revisions
Risk Management and Planning
Capacity Building
Technology and Digital Integration
Programmatic Shifts
Partnerships & Collaborations
Diversifying Funding Sources
Community Engagement, Advocacy, and Policy Engagement