Sem is a combination of vibrant teaching, active learning, creative engagement and community spirit.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 45 volunteers and 107 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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 $589K a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 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
$198K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.9 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $311K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
22
of 22 voting members
Looks good: 22 of 22 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.2M
+27% vs prior year
Spent
$8.3M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$17.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$8.2M
FY2025▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.9M
FY2021$7.0M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$5.4M
FY2024$6.5M
FY2025$8.2M
Expenses
$8.3M
FY2025▲ +20%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$7.4M
FY2022$6.9M
FY2023$7.2M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$8.3M
Net assets
$17.8M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$16.0M
FY2021$18.5M
FY2022$17.5M
FY2023$16.5M
FY2024$16.6M
FY2025$17.8M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 1935.

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% · $6.0M Management & general 20% · $1.6M Fundraising 8% · $644K

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

24 people listed on the 990; $198K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$111,854Pt VII · Sec A
$85,887Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Helen Marlette Through 62024’s $112K as Head of School is at the 40th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Helen Marlette—$188,374$186,196$169,996$160,760$152,914
Helen Marlette Through 62024$111,854—————
Blair Parker Effective 72024$85,887—————

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

Fosters vibrant teaching, active learning, and creative engagement to build community spirit.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $6.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Provide college preparatory environment in which young women are empowered to take their place in the global community by developing their intellects, widening their perspectives, encouraging active community involvement, and ensuring they are well grounded in all traditional disciplines.

$6.0Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$311K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $1.2M · 2024–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,164,861

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.2M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Other incomeLn 4–11$270K
Money outPt IX
$8.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.0M
Managementcol C$1.6M
Fundraisingcol D$644K
Owns and owesPt X
$17.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$628K
Total assetsLn 16$19.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a22
IndependentVI 1b22
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$69K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$4.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$34K
Other incomeLn 4–11$270K
Total revenueLn 12$8.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$114K
SavingsLn 2$513K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$628K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$630K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.8M
Other assetsLn 15$10.4M
Total assetsLn 16$19.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$17.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5107
VolunteersI 645
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$816K$628K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$594K$630K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.3M$6.8M
Total assetsLn 16$18.2M$19.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.5M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$16.6M$17.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.2M$1.2M
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$518K$518K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$247K$247K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.4M$1.4M$808K$200K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$89K$53K$31K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$186K$117K$54K$15K
Payroll taxesLn 10$201K$132K$26K$43K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$262K$262K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$511K$380K$109K$21K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$119K$91K$29K
Office expensesLn 13$252K$153K$80K$19K
Information technologyLn 14$80K$80K$44
OccupancyLn 16$1.1M$1.0M$40K$7K
TravelLn 17$77K$60K$10K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$17K$5K$12K$413
InterestLn 20$24K$22K$971$419
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$491K$478K$10K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$356K$356K
All other expensesLn 24e$220K$76K$113K$31K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.3M$6.0M$1.6M$644K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $8.2M$8.3M−$108K$17.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.5M$6.9M−$460K$16.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.4M$7.2M−$1.8M$16.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $7.0M$6.9M$116K$17.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $7.0M$7.4M−$306K$18.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.9M$7.9M−$957K$16.0M 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 F · Foreign M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,180,577 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,325,979$3,685,796
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,788,346$4,190,870
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $35,379$33,994
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $303,069$269,917
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,452,773$8,180,577
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,510,914$1,682,746
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,959,120$3,124,313
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$262,366
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,442,275$3,219,222
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,912,309$8,288,647
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$459,536−$108,070
Part VI · Governance 22 of 22 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body22
VI-1b Independent voting members22
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 $8,180,577 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $26,952 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,685,796
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$69,198
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,685,796
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $4,190,870$4,190,870
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $33,994$33,994
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $20,655$20,655
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $222,310$222,310
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $4,440,132 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $54,649$8,180,577
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,288,647 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,164,861$1,164,861
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $517,885$517,885
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $247,416$247,416
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,392,544 · Management $808,321 · Fundraising $200,394$2,401,259
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $52,637 · Management $30,720 · Fundraising $5,959$89,316
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $116,756 · Management $54,291 · Fundraising $14,541$185,588
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $131,917 · Management $25,618 · Fundraising $43,199$200,734
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $262,366$262,366
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $379,981 · Management $109,425 · Fundraising $21,344$510,750
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $90,605 · Fundraising $28,787$119,392
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $152,693 · Management $79,917 · Fundraising $19,369$251,979
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $80,082 · Fundraising $44$80,126
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,025,862 · Management $40,224 · Fundraising $6,706$1,072,792
IX-17 TravelPrograms $59,682 · Management $10,255 · Fundraising $7,077$77,014
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,531 · Management $11,645 · Fundraising $413$16,589
IX-20 InterestPrograms $22,278 · Management $971 · Fundraising $419$23,668
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $477,874 · Management $10,114 · Fundraising $2,881$490,869
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $356,415$356,415
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $76,074 · Management $112,826 · Fundraising $30,728$219,628
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,012,072 · Management $1,632,348 · Fundraising $644,227$8,288,647
Part X · Balance sheet $19,549,461 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $179,102$114,418
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $636,738$513,463
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $235,163$916,245
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $70,955$105,427
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $73,093$83,373
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,261,882$6,806,603
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $593,797$629,675
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $10,105,291$10,380,257
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $18,156,021$19,549,461
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $585,743$727,288
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $588,960$548,896
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,523,082$1,722,849
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,194,095$5,943,007
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $10,438,844$11,883,605
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $16,632,939$17,826,612
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $18,156,021$19,549,461
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $17,826,612 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,180,577
XI-2 Total expenses$8,288,647
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$108,070
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$16,632,939
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$22,534
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,279,209
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$17,826,612

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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