The Bay Area nonprofit has earned recognition for transparency and impact

Making Waves Education Foundation has earned the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency for the third year in a row, receiving the recognition in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Candid is a nonprofit formed in 2019 with the merging of GuideStar and Foundation Center to consolidate information about nonprofits and their financials and make it easier for funders to connect with verified nonprofits.

The Platinum Seal of Transparency is the highest seal level, awarded to nonprofits that share their board demographics and quantitative metrics to demonstrate their progress and results in addition to program information and other details about their nonprofit. The Candid’s 2025 Seals of Transparency guide highlights the different seal levels and what information is needed from the organization to earn specific seals.

Making Waves named among most transparent nonprofits

As of a Candid report in July 2025, only about 6% out of the more than 140,000 nonprofits analyzed in the report had a Platinum Seal of Transparency. The report highlights the benefits of being a transparent organization, whether big or small, noting that “organizations with a Candid Seal of Transparency averaged 62% more in donor contributions than those without a Seal.”

“We are deeply proud to receive the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency for the third year in a row. Candid helps current and potential funders research nonprofits that are aligned with their priorities and impact goals,” shared Allison Holton (she/her), chief external affairs officer at Making Waves, on why this achievement is important.

 “The Platinum Seal of Transparency shows Making Waves Education Foundation’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and trust,” she said.

Most Making Waves funding goes directly to program services

In addition to the Candid profile, Making Waves releases yearly impact reports that highlight student stories, results and metrics, and financials for the fiscal year, showcasing organizational progress over the year. For example, the foundation’s 2024-25 impact report shows 80% of expenses went directly to program services and 2% went to fundraising.

The next chapter at Making Waves and ways donors, partners, and volunteers can get involved

For 35 years, Making Waves has excelled at getting students to and through college, including 95% enrolling in a four-year or two-year college, 63% graduating with their bachelor’s degree (compared to 25% nationally), and 86% graduating from college debt-free. Looking ahead, Making Waves is building on that success to open more education and career pathways.

The Bay Area nonprofit is developing new pathways – ones that blur the lines between high school, college, and career – to open more doors to economic mobility and bridge the education and employment gap. 

Here are some of Making Waves’ new pilot programs underway:

• Rising Tide Network: a mentorship and social capital program that is connecting 10 pairs of mentors and mentees
• HealthX Fellowship: Paid Career Pathway: a six-month, paid healthcare experience for high school juniors and seniors across Contra Costa County
• Pathways to Health: Paid Career Program: a four-day, paid nuclear medicine opportunity for high school juniors and seniors across Contra Costa County
• Career Spark: Explore Your Future: a free, three-day career awareness program for 9th and 10th graders across Contra Costa County

Making Waves Education Foundation relies on the charity of donors, partners, and volunteers to support programs in education, workforce development, and economic mobility. Your support means we can continue our work partnering with students across Richmond, Contra Costa County, and the Bay Area.