Empower academic, social and emotional growth for all in a culturally inclusive and collaborative environment. We prioritize adaptive education and a supportive community to ensure every student feels valued and prepared to reach their full potential. We focus our resources and energy on developing our core capabilities to develop our strategic intents:--create differentiated programs that integrate academics with social and emotional learning--comprehensively identify individual education needs and learning styles--utilize collaborative teaming among staff, specialists, and families to integrate and coordinate personalized education--structure learning environments with small student-to-teacher ratios--assess student progress across all learning areas

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
96¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$515K 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

FY2024 · 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $68K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
96%
of spending
Looks good: 96% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$515K
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
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Worth a look: 0.5 months of spending in cash; under 1.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $50
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9.3M
192% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 192% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 5 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
$18.9M
+18% vs prior year
Spent
$18.8M
To programs
96%
Net assets
−$4.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$18.9M
FY2024▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.6M
FY2021$8.6M
FY2022$10.0M
FY2023$16.0M
FY2024$18.9M
FY2025$19.7M
Expenses
$18.8M
FY2024▲ +19%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.5M
FY2021$8.4M
FY2022$9.9M
FY2023$15.8M
FY2024$18.8M
FY2025$19.9M
Net assets
−$4.5M
FY2024▼ -130%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$1.5M
FY2021−$2.0M
FY2022−$2.2M
FY2023−$1.9M
FY2024−$4.5M
FY2025−$4.3M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 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 May 2004.

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

Where the money goes

96 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 96% · $18.0M Management & general 4% · $798K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $515K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Special Ed Director
$125,287Pt VII · Sec A
Academic Director
$119,063Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director/Ex-Officio
$110,674Pt VII · Sec A
Principal
$108,403Pt VII · Sec A
Member/Teacher
$51,569Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kelly Tiedemann$135,452$125,287————
Susan Scheller$127,988$119,063————
Diane Pangal$125,113$110,674$104,500$85,672$85,672—
Gilbert Hale$110,373$108,403————
Devin Taylor$109,210—————
William Toland$102,365—————
Jacqueline Donofrio$100,265$51,569————
Chipp Windham—————$95,410

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 Spero Academy 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 public charter school in Minnesota.

Questions for Spero Academy

Tap to ask. Spero Academy sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Spero Academy answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $18.0M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Spero academy completed year 20 of operation on june 30, 2024. During the year ended june 30, 2024, spero academy served a total of 230 students and over 93% of the student population are students with disabilities.

$18.0Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$50

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$18.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$262K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$18.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$18.0M
Managementcol C$798K
Owns and owesPt X
−$4.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$714K
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$18.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$262K
Investment incomeLn 3$60
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$64
Total revenueLn 12$18.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$714K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$714K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$360K
Other assetsLn 15$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5260
VolunteersI 67
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$815K$714K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$373K$360K
Total assetsLn 16$4.8M$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.8M$9.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.9M−$4.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$245K$110K$135K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.5M$8.2M$317K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$652K$633K$19K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$902K$883K$19K
Payroll taxesLn 10$683K$651K$32K
Legal feesLn 11b$10K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$100K$100K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$3.6M$3.5M$61K
Office expensesLn 13$162K$144K$18K
Information technologyLn 14$193K$161K$32K
OccupancyLn 16$3.4M$3.4M
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$36K$17K$19K
InterestLn 20$8K$8K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$75K$70K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$233K$204K$29K
All other expensesLn 24e$629$338$291
Total functional expensesLn 25$18.8M$18.0M$798K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $19.7M$19.9M−$233K−$4.3M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $18.9M$18.8M$40K−$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.0M$15.8M$210K−$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $10.0M$9.9M$77K−$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.6M$8.4M$187K−$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $8.6M$8.5M$126K−$1.5M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $18,858,189 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $15,803,668$18,594,658
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $165,833$261,835
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2−$4
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $49,258$1,700
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $16,018,761$18,858,189
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 $8,976,457$10,997,072
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $6,831,848$7,821,490
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $15,808,305$18,818,562
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $210,456$39,627
Part VI · Governance 5 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $18,858,189 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$18,450,938
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$143,720
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$18,594,658
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $261,835$261,835
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $60$60
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$64−$64
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,700$1,700
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $263,535 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$4$18,858,189
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $18,818,562 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $110,299 · Management $135,120$245,419
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $8,197,352 · Management $316,787$8,514,139
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $633,079 · Management $18,919$651,998
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $883,087 · Management $19,338$902,425
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $650,632 · Management $32,459$683,091
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $9,829$9,829
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $100,260$100,260
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $3,523,413 · Management $61,298$3,584,711
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $144,242 · Management $18,016$162,258
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $161,151 · Management $31,994$193,145
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,418,654$3,418,654
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $16,760 · Management $19,485$36,245
IX-20 InterestPrograms $7,558$7,558
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $70,256 · Management $4,696$74,952
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $203,776 · Management $29,473$233,249
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $338 · Management $291$629
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $18,020,597 · Management $797,965 · Fundraising $0$18,818,562
Part X · Balance sheet $4,853,952 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $814,533$713,591
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,473,404$2,317,851
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $20,299$18,933
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $372,681$359,651
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,130,181$1,443,926
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,811,098$4,853,952
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $606,747$765,214
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,153,464$8,269,502
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,760,211$9,334,716
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$1,949,113−$4,480,764
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,811,098$4,853,952
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$4,480,764 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$18,858,189
XI-2 Total expenses$18,818,562
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$39,627
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$1,949,113
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,571,278
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$4,480,764

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 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.