Propel Schools INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Pittsburgh, PA501(c)(3)Since 2002EducationEIN 03-0483260Revenue $26.0M in FY2020

On file with the IRSpropelschools.org3447 East Carson St Ste 200, 15203-2150 · Pittsburgh, PATax-exempt since Aug 2003School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Charter school for students in grades Kindergarten through Twelfth. Propels mission is to catalyze the transformation of public education so that all children have access to high performing public schools.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $869K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $471K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$22.4M
136% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 136% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$26.0M
Spent
$26.2M
To programs
84%
Net assets
−$5.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$26.0M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$26.0M
FY2021$27.8M
FY2022$29.5M
FY2023$31.0M
FY2024$27.9M
FY2025$25.4M
Expenses
$26.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$26.2M
FY2021$25.1M
FY2022$25.9M
FY2023$28.2M
FY2024$29.1M
FY2025$27.7M
Net assets
−$5.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$5.9M
FY2021−$3.2M
FY2022$599K
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025−$245K

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2003.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $21.9M Management & general 16% · $4.3M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
Superintendent, CEO
$190,955Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer - Retired Oct 2019
$157,693Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Planning
$131,323Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director
$129,169Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director
$116,780Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Operations
$113,698Pt VII · Sec A
Director, K-12
$108,633Pt VII · Sec A
Community Affairs SR Director
$104,820Pt VII · Sec A

Tina Chekan’s $221K as Superintendent, CEO is at the 44th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Tina Chekan$221,031$207,357$205,092$205,092$188,459$190,955
Charles Daane—————$157,693
Teresa O'Neill$152,323$144,481$145,428$145,428$132,029$129,169
Beth Wright$136,119$130,378$132,911$132,911$121,856$98,582
Jeremy Resnick—————$131,323
Richard Snyder$125,218$120,606$119,219$119,219$117,626$113,698
Jaclyn Hoover$123,038$114,701$116,567$116,567——
Constance Murray$122,270—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Educates K-12 students in a charter school setting, transforming public education.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $21.9M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Propel Schools is a charter school granted by a public school district to serve students in the area.

$21.9Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Muse FoundationFY2024$500
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$471K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$26.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$691K
Money outPt IX
$26.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$21.9M
Managementcol C$4.3M
Owns and owesPt X
−$5.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.9M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$22.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.9M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$20.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$70K
Other incomeLn 4–11$691K
Total revenueLn 12$26.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$872K
SavingsLn 2$5.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.8M
Other assetsLn 15$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$22.4M
Net assetsLn 32−$5.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5287
VolunteersI 611
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.3M$5.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.6M$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$17.7M$16.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$23.4M$22.4M
Net assetsLn 32−$5.7M−$5.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$487K$0$487K$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10.2M$9.2M$1.0M$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.6M$1.5M$73K$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$3.1M$2.8M$325K$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$947K$874K$73K$0
Management feesLn 11a$1.8M$0$1.8M$0
Legal feesLn 11b$221K$0$221K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$18K$0$18K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.0M$1.9M$95K$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$113K$99K$14K$0
Office expensesLn 13$1.4M$1.4M$49K$0
Information technologyLn 14$430K$427K$3K$0
OccupancyLn 16$948K$948K$0$0
TravelLn 17$83K$80K$3K$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$203K$168K$35K$0
InsuranceLn 23$281K$278K$3K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.1M$2.1M$15K$0
All other expensesLn 24e$279K$231K$48K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$26.2M$21.9M$4.3M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $25.4M$27.7M−$2.3M−$245K 990 PDF
FY2024 $27.9M$29.1M−$1.3M$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $31.0M$28.2M$2.8M$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $29.5M$25.9M$3.6M$599K 990 PDF
FY2021 $27.8M$25.1M$2.7M−$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $26.0M$26.2M−$238K−$5.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $26,009,398 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,786,904$5,091,895
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $19,531,356$20,156,250
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $108,638$69,840
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $513,525$691,413
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $24,940,423$26,009,398
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $13,601,873$16,300,478
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $10,498,708$9,946,444
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $24,100,581$26,246,922
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $839,842−$237,524
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $26,009,398 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $157,677 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1d Related organizations$1,170,166
VIII-1e Government grants$3,921,689
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$40
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,091,895
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$20,012,125
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $69,840$69,840
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $676,221 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,640$677,861
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $20,846,023 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $71,480$26,009,398
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $26,246,922 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $486,825 · Fundraising $0$486,825
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,202,618 · Management $1,001,691 · Fundraising $0$10,204,309
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,510,648 · Management $73,007 · Fundraising $0$1,583,655
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,753,834 · Management $324,753 · Fundraising $0$3,078,587
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $874,353 · Management $72,749 · Fundraising $0$947,102
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $1,840,984 · Fundraising $0$1,840,984
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $221,054 · Fundraising $0$221,054
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $17,559 · Fundraising $0$17,559
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,927,440 · Management $95,371 · Fundraising $0$2,022,811
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $98,799 · Management $13,888 · Fundraising $0$112,687
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,376,807 · Management $48,519 · Fundraising $0$1,425,326
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $427,473 · Management $3,015 · Fundraising $0$430,488
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $947,745 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$947,745
IX-17 TravelPrograms $80,236 · Management $2,545 · Fundraising $0$82,781
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $167,900 · Management $35,470 · Fundraising $0$203,370
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $277,636 · Management $3,153 · Fundraising $0$280,789
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,066,992 · Management $14,938 · Fundraising $0$2,081,930
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $231,001 · Management $47,919 · Fundraising $0$278,920
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $21,943,482 · Management $4,303,440 · Fundraising $0$26,246,922
Part X · Balance sheet $16,474,105 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,189,242$872,466
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $6,100,902$4,992,532
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $415,292$475,528
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,647,326$4,342,086
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $4,002$5,872
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,593,696$1,335,460
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,569,765$1,758,313
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,212,700$2,691,848
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $17,732,925$16,474,105
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,072,365$2,183,841
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $21,364,558$20,231,786
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $23,436,923$22,415,627
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$5,703,998−$5,941,522
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $17,732,925$16,474,105
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$5,941,522 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$26,009,398
XI-2 Total expenses$26,246,922
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$237,524
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$5,703,998
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$5,941,522

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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