Amber Charter School FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 2000EducationEIN 13-4119814Revenue $17.7M in FY2020

On file with the IRSambercharter.org220 E 106th Street, 10029-4020 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Oct 2000School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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To provide our students an academically rigorous and well-rounded education, along with strong character development, that will enable them to prosper in future endeavors.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.0M 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $117K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.0M
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $186K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.6M
34% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 34% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 11 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
$17.7M
Spent
$14.7M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$10.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$17.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.7M
FY2021$20.9M
FY2022$28.0M
FY2023$27.2M
FY2024$29.7M
FY2025$31.1M
Expenses
$14.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$14.7M
FY2021$17.3M
FY2022$30.3M
FY2023$28.5M
FY2024$31.4M
FY2025$31.7M
Net assets
$10.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$10.6M
FY2021$14.2M
FY2022$11.9M
FY2023$10.6M
FY2024$8.8M
FY2025$8.3M

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 Oct 2000.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $10.7M Management & general 27% · $4.0M

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

18 people listed on the 990; $1.0M 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
Executive Director
$245,213Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$156,832Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Academic Officer
$137,793Pt VII · Sec A
$132,275Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Communications Offic
$120,503Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer
$117,421Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Principal
$101,736Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Veronica Almedina’s $264K as Co-Chief Executive Officer is at the 56th 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
Vasthi Acosta——$221,471$263,771$296,520$245,213
Veronica Almedina$263,536$258,948$164,260$164,389$144,698$132,275
Kirsys Gomez$261,071$256,920$203,100$149,746——
Sashemani Elliott$204,965$196,232$209,827$163,143$140,477$137,793
Christine Ganey$200,331$192,472$186,867$161,208$143,637$120,503
Karen Drezner———$180,785$177,787$117,421
Heidi Hamilton———$172,225$165,723$156,832
Meirelys Ruiz$164,843—————

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 Amber Charter School executive salaries →

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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

Offers rigorous academics and character development to help students succeed.

Questions for Amber Charter School

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $10.7M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

The organization operates a charter school in the city of new york. The school is open to the general public (admision by lottery). Amber's mission is to provide students with an academically rigorous and well-rounded education, along with strong character development, that will enable them to prosper in future endeavors.

$10.6Mprogram expense
02

The after school program was started in september 2014. In addition to supplementing what the students have learned in school, they participate in interactive learning models that engage critical thinking skills and get assistance with their homework from trained staff members.

$61Kprogram 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
50can INCFY2024$116K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$186K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$17.7M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$15.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Money outPt IX
$14.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$10.7M
Managementcol C$4.0M
Owns and owesPt X
$10.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.8M
Total assetsLn 16$16.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$71K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$35K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$15.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Total revenueLn 12$17.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$8.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.5M
Other assetsLn 15$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$16.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$10.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5172
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$5.2M$8.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.0M$4.5M
Total assetsLn 16$11.6M$16.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.0M$5.6M
Net assetsLn 32$7.6M$10.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$462K$92K$370K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.1M$6.0M$2.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$276K$211K$65K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.7M$1.2M$495K
Payroll taxesLn 10$751K$535K$216K
Management feesLn 11a$89K$89K
Legal feesLn 11b$37K$37K
Accounting feesLn 11c$21K$21K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$911K$658K$253K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$55K$42K$13K
Office expensesLn 13$114K$23K$91K
Information technologyLn 14$144K$129K$14K
OccupancyLn 16$607K$538K$69K
TravelLn 17$36K$26K$10K
InterestLn 20$134K$121K$13K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$281K$253K$28K
InsuranceLn 23$112K$80K$32K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$723K$703K$20K
All other expensesLn 24e$84K$72K$12K
Total functional expensesLn 25$14.7M$10.7M$4.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $31.1M$31.7M−$550K$8.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 $29.7M$31.4M−$1.8M$8.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $27.2M$28.5M−$1.3M$10.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $28.0M$30.3M−$2.3M$11.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $20.9M$17.3M$3.6M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $17.7M$14.7M$3.0M$10.6M 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 $17,725,329 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $678,850$2,748,745
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $15,133,526$14,966,282
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,046$1,351
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $18,538$8,951
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $15,832,960$17,725,329
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 $9,496,739$11,353,896
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,350,569$3,347,124
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $13,847,308$14,701,020
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,985,652$3,024,309
Part VI · Governance 11 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $17,725,329 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$35,128
VIII-1e Government grants$2,362,662
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$350,955
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$70,813
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,748,745
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $14,966,282$14,966,282
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,351$1,351
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $8,951$8,951
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $14,975,233 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,351$17,725,329
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $14,701,020 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $92,424 · Management $369,695$462,119
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $5,979,914 · Management $2,159,918$8,139,832
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $211,398 · Management $64,989$276,387
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,229,421 · Management $494,872$1,724,293
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $535,206 · Management $216,059$751,265
IX-11a Management feesManagement $89,497$89,497
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $36,522$36,522
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $21,026$21,026
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $658,334 · Management $252,596$910,930
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $41,776 · Management $12,983$54,759
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $22,778 · Management $91,111$113,889
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $129,397 · Management $14,377$143,774
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $538,483 · Management $68,730$607,213
IX-17 TravelPrograms $25,875 · Management $10,384$36,259
IX-20 InterestPrograms $120,598 · Management $13,397$133,995
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $252,860 · Management $28,096$280,956
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $79,740 · Management $32,086$111,826
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $703,040 · Management $19,766$722,806
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $71,978 · Management $11,694$83,672
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $10,693,222 · Management $4,007,798 · Fundraising $0$14,701,020
Part X · Balance sheet $16,180,534 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,226,613$8,775,088
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $463,251$873,198
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $31,402$22,337
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $93,596$149,950
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,963,703$4,515,359
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,782,816$1,844,602
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $11,561,381$16,180,534
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,372,890$1,550,229
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payable$1,915,100
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $548,460$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,966,107$5,560,951
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,595,274$10,619,583
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $7,595,274$10,619,583
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $11,561,381$16,180,534
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $10,619,583 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$17,725,329
XI-2 Total expenses$14,701,020
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,024,309
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$7,595,274
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$10,619,583

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

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