Exploration runs day and boarding academic enrichment summer programs for middle School students. The programs are experiential in nature and encourage intellectual inquiry, foster a joy of learning, and help students explore the world of people and ideas. The organization also consults with independent and public schools and runs professional learning programs for both.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.2M 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

FY2021 · 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
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $3.1M a year · 43% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $22.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
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 · $6K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6.1M
20% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 20% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.3M
+662% vs prior year
Spent
$12.2M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$24.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$12.3M
FY2021▲ +662%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$12.3M
FY2022$10.0M
FY2023$7.8M
FY2024$7.6M
FY2025$4.0M
Expenses
$12.2M
FY2021▲ +54%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$12.2M
FY2022$11.8M
FY2023$12.0M
FY2024$12.4M
FY2025$5.7M
Net assets
$24.9M
FY2021▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$23.6M
FY2021$24.9M
FY2022$18.1M
FY2023$15.0M
FY2024$11.5M
FY2025$9.6M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending August 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Feb 1977.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $11.0M Management & general 9% · $1.2M

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

20 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
President
$301,145Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Program Marketing
$245,830Pt VII · Sec A
VP of Explo and Executive Director of Elevate
$203,065Pt VII · Sec A
Business Manager
$149,602Pt VII · Sec A
Program Head
$141,388Pt VII · Sec A
Program Head
$141,152Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Moira Kelly$341,848$330,198$319,658$330,481$301,145$293,145
Dave Krijger————$245,830—
John Peters$216,012$209,725$197,945$172,262——
Robin Staley$212,296$193,063————
Amy Robbins$207,327$195,778$187,992$153,081$149,602$141,678
Mark Greenlaw————$203,065—
Wendy Willrich$179,889—————
Chandervesh Yadav——$171,876$163,683——

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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Operates summer programs for diverse students and helps schools innovate learning environments.

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1 program · $11.0M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Exploration enrolled students from across the us to engage in courses, workshops, activities, and trips where they discovered the world of people and ideas, experienced the joy of learning and cultural appreciation.

$11.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$6K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $2.2M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$37,985
Unitemized GrantFY2023$502,960
Unitemized GrantFY2023$502,960
Unitemized GrantFY2022$311,370
Unitemized GrantFY2021$193,090
Unitemized GrantFY2020$463,828
Unitemized GrantFY2019$167,400

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.6M
Money outPt IX
$12.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.0M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$24.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$31.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$2.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$5K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.1M
Total revenueLn 12$12.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.7M
SavingsLn 2$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$22.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.6M
Other assetsLn 15$157K
Total assetsLn 16$31.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.1M
Net assetsLn 32$24.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5236
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.4M$2.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$21.6M$22.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.8M$3.6M
Total assetsLn 16$29.1M$31.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M$6.1M
Net assetsLn 32$23.6M$24.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$464K$464K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$3K$3K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$582K$312K$270K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.1M$4.8M$213K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$348K$326K$23K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$234K$214K$20K
Payroll taxesLn 10$404K$395K$9K
Management feesLn 11a$231K$209K$22K
Legal feesLn 11b$9K$4K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$23K$23K
Investment management feesLn 11f$103K$103K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1.3M$964K$292K
Office expensesLn 13$290K$279K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$57K$51K$6K
TravelLn 17$24K$22K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$26K$24K$2K
InterestLn 20$143K$127K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$240K$212K$27K
InsuranceLn 23$158K$149K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.0M$2.0M
All other expensesLn 24e$517K$418K$99K
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.2M$11.0M$1.2M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $4.0M$5.7M−$1.8M$9.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $7.6M$12.4M−$4.8M$11.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $7.8M$12.0M−$4.2M$15.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.0M$11.8M−$1.7M$18.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $12.3M$12.2M$108K$24.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.6M$7.9M−$6.3M$23.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,294,773 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $821,830$2,699,251
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $654,545$6,982,320
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $132,940$2,608,582
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,620$4,620
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,613,935$12,294,773
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $174,365$466,693
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,041,528$6,629,572
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,690,675$5,090,638
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,906,568$12,186,903
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$6,292,633$107,870
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $12,294,773 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,675,852
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$23,399
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,699,251
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,982,320$6,982,320
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $548,659$548,659
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $4,620$4,620
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,059,923$2,059,923
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,982,320 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,613,202$12,294,773
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $12,186,903 across 21 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $463,828$463,828
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $2,865$2,865
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $311,906 · Management $269,999$581,905
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,848,557 · Management $212,961$5,061,518
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $325,799 · Management $22,539$348,338
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $213,699 · Management $20,044$233,743
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $394,869 · Management $9,199$404,068
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $209,335 · Management $21,505$230,840
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $4,436 · Management $4,436$8,872
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $23,205$23,205
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $103,330$103,330
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $963,722 · Management $291,606$1,255,328
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $278,690 · Management $10,924$289,614
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $50,502 · Management $6,494$56,996
IX-17 TravelPrograms $21,699 · Management $2,411$24,110
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $23,867 · Management $2,331$26,198
IX-20 InterestPrograms $126,739 · Management $16,296$143,035
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $212,314 · Management $27,299$239,613
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $148,964 · Management $9,113$158,077
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,014,582$2,014,582
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $418,064 · Management $98,774$516,838
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,034,437 · Management $1,152,466 · Fundraising $0$12,186,903
Part X · Balance sheet $30,976,539 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,349,167$1,729,393
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,024,552$1,024,552
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $48,617$1,902,857
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $99,297$191,519
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,753,888$3,606,000
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $21,645,696$22,365,692
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $153,501$156,526
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $29,074,718$30,976,539
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $832,765$1,572,712
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,494,719$6,070,526
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $23,512,412$24,828,375
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $67,587$77,638
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $23,579,999$24,906,013
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $29,074,718$30,976,539
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $24,906,013 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,294,773
XI-2 Total expenses$12,186,903
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$107,870
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$23,579,999
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,218,144
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$24,906,013

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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