Using innovative education practices as a catalyst for social change, Highlander Charter School ensures that all children have the opportunity and support necessary to meet their full potential.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
93¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$334K 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $336K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
93%
of spending
Looks good: 93% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$334K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $35K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$8.8M
64% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 64% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.5M
Spent
$10.2M
To programs
93%
Net assets
$4.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$10.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$10.5M
FY2021$11.4M
FY2022$14.7M
FY2023$13.6M
FY2024$13.9M
FY2025$15.5M
Expenses
$10.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$10.2M
FY2021$10.6M
FY2022$12.7M
FY2023$14.5M
FY2024$15.0M
FY2025$14.8M
Net assets
$4.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.9M
FY2021$5.8M
FY2022$7.8M
FY2023$7.0M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$6.8M

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

Give Claim
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 Jul 2003.

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

Where the money goes

93 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 93% · $9.5M Management & general 6% · $662K Fundraising 1% · $79K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

20 people listed on the 990; $334K 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
CEO/Principal
$128,285Pt VII · Sec A
Asst. Head of School
$106,138Pt VII · Sec A
$99,558Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jessica Blanco’s $141K as Director of Teaching & Lea is at the 12th 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
Rose Mary Grant—$162,147$140,931$161,307$135,668$128,285
Frank Picciotti$120,868$109,196$141,555$111,544$111,345$99,558
Jessica Blanco$141,080$126,135$121,311$127,190$112,335—
Simona Simpson-Thomas$136,057—————
Jane Roseberry$131,134$120,311$116,820$133,100$117,467—
William Pabst$126,081$120,701$105,007———
Angela Goulart$123,119$119,839$106,062———
Michael Willard———$110,459——

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.

See The Highlander Charter School executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Operates a charter school in Rhode Island, providing education to students.

Questions for The Highlander Charter School

Tap to ask. The Highlander Charter School sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. The Highlander Charter School answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $9.5M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Operated a state charter school for rhode island students drawing largely from the greater providence metropolitan area, with 69% of the students from the city of providence. Using innovative education practices as a catalyst for social change, the school is working to ensure that all children have the educational opportunities and…

$9.5Mprogram 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 · FY2024
Iola FoundationFY2024$10K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$35K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 21 grants · $867K · 2021–2024
Meeting StreetRI · FY2024$86,317
Thrive Behavioral Health INCRI · FY2024$65,100
Ocean State Academy Cranston LLCFY2024$49,248
LearnwellFY2024$6,174
Meeting StreetRI · FY2023$84,881
Accesspoint RIRI · FY2023$68,146
Cranston Public SchoolsFY2023$37,752
Thrive Behavioral Health INCRI · FY2023$11,900
CcriRI · FY2023$9,034
LearnwellFY2023$6,437
Meeting StreetRI · FY2021$63,233
Specialized Education of RI INCFY2021$52,198
See all 21 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$10.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$84K
Other incomeLn 4–11$62K
Money outPt IX
$10.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.5M
Managementcol C$662K
Fundraisingcol D$79K
Owns and owesPt X
$4.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.3M
Total assetsLn 16$13.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$84K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$10.3M
Investment incomeLn 3−$90
Other incomeLn 4–11$62K
Total revenueLn 12$10.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$452K
SavingsLn 2$2.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$99K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.5M
Other assetsLn 15$534K
Total assetsLn 16$13.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.8M
Net assetsLn 32$4.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5188
VolunteersI 646
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$1.4M$3.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$73K$99K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.8M$9.5M
Total assetsLn 16$12.4M$13.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.7M$8.8M
Net assetsLn 32$4.7M$4.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$272K$204K$68K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.1M$4.8M$244K$67K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$537K$521K$14K$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$485K$471K$11K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$452K$422K$24K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$165K$160K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$44K$44K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$208K$107K$101K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$5K$4K$884
Office expensesLn 13$229K$222K$7K
Information technologyLn 14$106K$95K$12K
OccupancyLn 16$768K$688K$80K
TravelLn 17$121$121
InterestLn 20$248K$238K$10K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$397K$388K$9K
InsuranceLn 23$96K$83K$13K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.1M$1.0M$18K
All other expensesLn 24e$262$249$13
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.2M$9.5M$662K$79K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $15.5M$14.8M$768K$6.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $13.9M$15.0M−$1.0M$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $13.6M$14.5M−$846K$7.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $14.7M$12.7M$2.0M$7.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $11.4M$10.6M$874K$5.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $10.5M$10.2M$244K$4.9M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $10,462,683 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $145,631$83,705
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $10,139,716$10,317,018
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,564−$90
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $98,845$62,050
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,385,756$10,462,683
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $6,521,359$6,894,498
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,550,070$3,324,350
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,071,429$10,218,848
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $314,327$243,835
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $10,462,683 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$83,705
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$83,705
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $10,317,018$10,317,018
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax −$90−$90
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $56,623 · Excluded from tax $5,427$62,050
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $10,373,641 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $5,337$10,462,683
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,218,848 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $204,061 · Management $68,020$272,081
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,836,298 · Management $244,292 · Fundraising $67,283$5,147,873
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $520,950 · Management $13,710 · Fundraising $2,796$537,456
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $471,198 · Management $10,969 · Fundraising $2,586$484,753
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $422,249 · Management $24,182 · Fundraising $5,904$452,335
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $159,624 · Management $4,937$164,561
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $44,400$44,400
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $106,815 · Management $100,766$207,581
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $4,464 · Management $884$5,348
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $221,568 · Management $7,404$228,972
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $94,667 · Management $11,771$106,438
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $687,803 · Management $79,803$767,606
IX-17 TravelPrograms $121$121
IX-20 InterestPrograms $237,815 · Management $9,909$247,724
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $387,795 · Management $9,408$397,203
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $83,208 · Management $13,218$96,426
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,039,861 · Management $17,847$1,057,708
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $249 · Management $13$262
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,478,746 · Management $661,533 · Fundraising $78,569$10,218,848
Part X · Balance sheet $13,736,720 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $210,060$452,350
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,219,318$2,839,509
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $200,732$20,083
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $278,971$250,607
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $31,155$47,531
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,808,359$9,493,653
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $72,840$99,318
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $540,758$533,669
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,362,193$13,736,720
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $666,657$625,141
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $94$94
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $3,195,000$3,075,000
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$1,541,700
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,684,110$8,813,186
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,500,580$4,746,120
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $177,503$177,414
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,678,083$4,923,534
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,362,193$13,736,720
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $4,923,534 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$10,462,683
XI-2 Total expenses$10,218,848
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$243,835
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,678,083
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,616
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$4,923,534

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.