South Buffalo Charter School

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South Buffalo Charter School provides elementary education to students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. We are a professional learning community. Our focus on learning is driven by research, data and collaborative reflection to increase student achievement.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers and 164 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.4M a year · 16% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$377K
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
12 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $47K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$15.9M
-2% vs prior year
Spent
$13.4M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$38.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$15.9M
FY2025▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$14.4M
FY2021$14.0M
FY2022$16.1M
FY2023$15.6M
FY2024$16.2M
FY2025$15.9M
Expenses
$13.4M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$11.9M
FY2021$11.3M
FY2022$13.0M
FY2023$14.1M
FY2024$13.8M
FY2025$13.4M
Net assets
$38.6M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$26.4M
FY2021$29.1M
FY2022$31.8M
FY2023$33.3M
FY2024$35.9M
FY2025$38.6M

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

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Aug 2001.

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

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $12.0M Management & general 11% · $1.4M

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

9 people listed on the 990; $377K 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
Superintendent
$180,933Pt VII · Sec A
Principal
$108,664Pt VII · Sec A
$87,340Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

David Ehrle’s $181K as Superintendent is at the 29th 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
David Ehrle$180,933$180,933$178,530$140,230$139,230$134,250
David Thomas$108,664$108,664$106,020———
Juli-Lyn Colpoys————$90,000$88,450
Christine Petrie Kendrick$87,340—————
Christine Petrie—$87,340$72,176———
Deborah Vanwey-Kociencki——$31,500$41,172$17,118—

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 South Buffalo Charter School executive salaries →

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

Facilitates professional learning through research, data, and collaborative reflection.

Questions for South Buffalo Charter School

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Your first name shows with your question. South Buffalo Charter School answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $12.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Providing equitable opportunities for all students to acquire an education that links character education with rigorous academics, technology and careers.

$12.0Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$47K

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $1.3M federal money spent
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through New York State Education Department and 1 more$573K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through New York State Education Department$415K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through New York State Education Department$262K
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through New York State Education Department$54K
Student Support and Academic Enrichment ProgramDepartment of Education · ALN 84.424 · Through New York State Education Department$32K

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $2.5M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through New York State Education Department$1.2M
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through New York State Education Department and 1 more$585K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through New York State Education Department$374K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through New York State Education Department$240K
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through New York State Education Department$51K

Plus 1 smaller program.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $2.6M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through New York State Education Department$1.3M
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through New York State Education Department and 1 more$593K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through New York State Education Department$405K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through New York State Education Department$236K
Improving Teacher Quality State GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through New York State Education Department$59K

Plus 1 smaller program.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $3.0M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through New York State Education Department$1.7M
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through New York State Education Department and 1 more$640K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through New York State Education Department$397K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through New York State Education Department$221K
Supporting Effective Instruction State GrantsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through New York State Education Department$44K

Plus 2 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$15.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Money outPt IX
$13.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$12.0M
Managementcol C$1.4M
Owns and owesPt X
$38.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$13.1M
Total assetsLn 16$40.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$40K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$13.4M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$29K
Total revenueLn 12$15.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$13.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$13.1M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$970K
Accounts receivableLn 4$866K
Notes and loans receivableLn 7$14.4M
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$407K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$200K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.3M
Total assetsLn 16$40.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$38.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5164
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$40K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.2M$13.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$9.7M$10.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$190K$200K
Total assetsLn 16$37.8M$40.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$35.9M$38.6M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$285K$200K$84K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.4M$5.9M$495K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$629K$578K$51K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.4M$1.3M$109K
Payroll taxesLn 10$533K$488K$45K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$611K$324K$288K
Office expensesLn 13$102K$93K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$351K$321K$30K
OccupancyLn 16$1.4M$1.3M$123K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$37K$34K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$105K$96K$9K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$1.2M$47K
All other expensesLn 24e$269K$142K$127K
Total functional expensesLn 25$13.4M$12.0M$1.4M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS May 15, 2026 $15.9M$13.4M$2.5M$38.6M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 14, 2025 $16.2M$13.8M$2.4M$35.9M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 15, 2024 $15.6M$14.1M$1.5M$33.3M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS May 12, 2023 $16.1M$13.0M$3.1M$31.8M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 11, 2022 $14.0M$11.3M$2.6M$29.1M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 11, 2021 $14.4M$11.9M$2.4M$26.4M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $15,881,896 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,581,037$1,356,773
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $12,702,196$13,449,101
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $929,540$1,047,425
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,853$28,597
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $16,218,626$15,881,896
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 $9,719,604$9,209,172
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,051,207$4,193,385
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $13,770,811$13,402,557
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,447,815$2,479,339
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $15,881,896 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,356,773
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$39,521
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,356,773
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $13,449,101$13,449,101
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,047,425$1,047,425
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $28,597$28,597
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $13,477,698 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,047,425$15,881,896
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $13,402,557 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $200,232 · Management $84,433$284,665
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $5,893,490 · Management $494,886$6,388,376
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $577,552 · Management $51,248$628,800
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,265,117 · Management $108,763$1,373,880
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $487,991 · Management $45,460$533,451
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $323,954 · Management $287,502$611,456
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $93,119 · Management $8,675$101,794
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $321,161 · Management $29,918$351,079
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,321,426 · Management $123,100$1,444,526
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $34,218 · Management $3,188$37,406
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $95,791 · Management $8,924$104,715
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,226,178 · Management $47,298$1,273,476
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $141,508 · Management $127,425$268,933
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,981,737 · Management $1,420,820 · Fundraising $0$13,402,557
Part X · Balance sheet $40,286,927 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $11,155,799$13,133,930
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,539,845$970,250
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $122,727$865,923
X-7 Notes and loans receivableStart of year $13,740,335$14,371,113
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $350,310$406,775
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $189,826$199,830
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $9,748,068$10,339,106
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $37,846,910$40,286,927
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,929,710$1,715,538
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,929,710$1,715,538
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $35,917,200$38,571,389
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $35,917,200$38,571,389
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $37,846,910$40,286,927
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $38,571,389 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$15,881,896
XI-2 Total expenses$13,402,557
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,479,339
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$35,917,200
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$174,850
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$38,571,389

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

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