Synergy Academies FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Los Angeles, CA501(c)(3)Since 2004EducationEIN 20-0672173

Synergy academies' mission is to create and share solutions that eliminate the achievement gap. Synergy creates and shares solutions through the operation of urban public charter schools in south los angeles that implement a holistic approach to education, believe in collective accountability, and share best practices through professional collaboration.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ 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

FY2021 · 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 $1.8M a year · 8% 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
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.0M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 11.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $46K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.0M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
11
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 11 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$19.8M
+6% vs prior year
Spent
$17.2M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$18.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$19.8M
FY2021▲ +6%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$18.7M
FY2021$19.8M
FY2022$21.6M
FY2023$25.8M
FY2024$28.9M
FY2025$28.0M
Expenses
$17.2M
FY2021+0.2%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.2M
FY2021$17.2M
FY2022$19.9M
FY2023$24.0M
FY2024$27.2M
FY2025$26.5M
Net assets
$18.2M
FY2021▲ +16%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$15.6M
FY2021$18.2M
FY2022$19.9M
FY2023$21.6M
FY2024$23.2M
FY2025$24.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Aug 2005.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $15.6M Management & general 9% · $1.6M Fundraising 0% · $1K

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $1.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Achievement Officer
$151,722Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Executive Officer
$151,525Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer
$135,603Pt VII · Sec A
Principal, Sqa
$126,000Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Stem Ed
$124,530Pt VII · Sec A
Principal, Ska
$118,772Pt VII · Sec A
Principal, Sca
$109,124Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Special Educat
$103,663Pt VII · Sec A

Rhonda Deomampo’s $193K as Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent is at the 34th 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
Rhonda Deomampo$192,824$170,503$170,503$161,432$151,525$154,500
Jennifer Epps$178,699$168,599$168,599$163,777$151,722$150,710
Christina Vogel$167,843$165,463$154,758$136,980$135,603$132,249
Johanna Knight-Briseno$162,142$151,504$147,075———
Christine Bradford$137,000$142,513$136,582$131,872$118,772$113,953
Johana Knight———$138,218——
Sommer Jones$137,000$130,006$118,026—$103,663—
Maria Raffanti$132,044—————

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 Synergy Academies 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

Operates urban public charter schools to eliminate the achievement gap through holistic education and collaboration.

Provided by the organization

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1 program service account for $15.6M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2020.
01

Public charter schools servicing grades k-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The schools offered 175 days of instruction and served approximately 1,345 students during the 2020-21 fiscal year.

$15.6Mprogram expense

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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
UnidosusFY2024$35K
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$46K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$19.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.6M
Other incomeLn 4–11$100K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Money outPt IX
$17.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$15.6M
Managementcol C$1.6M
Fundraisingcol D$1K
Owns and owesPt X
$18.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.1M
Total assetsLn 16$20.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$19.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$100K
Total revenueLn 12$19.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.5M
SavingsLn 2$12.6M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$20.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32$18.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5136
VolunteersI 614
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14.6M$16.1M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$17.0M$20.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.4M$2.0M
Net assetsLn 32$15.6M$18.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$364K$310K$55K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$8.5M$8.1M$305K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.3M$1.3M$51K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.2M$1.1M$52K
Payroll taxesLn 10$287K$269K$18K
Management feesLn 11a$151K$151K
Legal feesLn 11b$75K$75K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.1M$886K$231K
Office expensesLn 13$67K$13K$54K
Information technologyLn 14$43K$43K
OccupancyLn 16$1.1M$908K$196K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K$373
InsuranceLn 23$185K$185K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.8M$2.6M$234K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$17.2M$15.6M$1.6M$1K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $28.0M$26.5M$1.5M$24.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $28.9M$27.2M$1.7M$23.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $25.8M$24.0M$1.8M$21.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $21.6M$19.9M$1.7M$19.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $19.8M$17.2M$2.6M$18.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $18.7M$17.2M$1.5M$15.6M 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 FY2021 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $19,751,709 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$19,607,422
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$39,797
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$19,647,219
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $4,697$4,697
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $99,793$99,793
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $99,793 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,697$19,751,709
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $17,179,287 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $309,737 · Management $54,659$364,396
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $8,147,261 · Management $305,350$8,452,611
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,296,095 · Management $50,706$1,346,801
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,121,915 · Management $51,711$1,173,626
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $268,751 · Management $18,034$286,785
IX-11a Management feesManagement $150,649$150,649
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $74,638$74,638
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $886,061 · Management $230,667$1,116,728
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $12,963 · Management $53,554$66,517
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $43,401$43,401
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $907,760 · Management $195,938$1,103,698
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,119 · Management $373$1,492
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $185,259$185,259
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $2,577,071 · Management $234,483 · Fundraising $1,132$2,812,686
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $15,572,134 · Management $1,606,021 · Fundraising $1,132$17,179,287
Part X · Balance sheet $20,132,785 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $5,609,671$3,533,825
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,004,255$12,560,567
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,164,996$3,978,812
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,562$356
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $162,924$56,475
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,242$2,750
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,950,650$20,132,785
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,352,064$771,479
X-19 Deferred revenue$953,440
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$236,858
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,352,064$1,961,777
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $15,547,060$18,128,950
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $51,526$42,058
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,598,586$18,171,008
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,950,650$20,132,785
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $18,171,008 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$19,751,709
XI-2 Total expenses$17,179,287
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,572,422
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,598,586
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$18,171,008

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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