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Propel Schools Foundation

Tax-deductible

Pittsburgh, PA501(c)(3)Since 2004Education EIN 20-1100962Revenue $2.7M in FY2025

On file with the IRSpropelschools.org3447 E Carson St Suite 200, 15203-2150 · Pittsburgh, PATax-exempt since Nov 2004Supporting org, Type I — 509(a)(3)

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The Propel Schools Foundation supports the mission of Propel Schools: to catalyze the transformation of public education so that all children have access to high-performing public Schools. Propel Schools Foundation seeks and accepts donations and other resources that advance our imperative work that empowers our scholars to achieve academic and personal excellence. Funds raised are dispersed to the Schools to provide quality programs to the 3,500 scholars attending propel's 13 Schools.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
56¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 30 volunteers and 4 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $208K a year · 12% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
56%
of spending
Worth a look: 56% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Cash reserves
11 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $15.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 10.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
13
named funders · $219K
Looks good: 13 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.3M
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.7M
+285% vs prior year
Spent
$1.3M
To programs
56%
Net assets
$18.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.7M
FY2025▲ +285%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$887K
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$700K
FY2025$2.7M
Expenses
$1.3M
FY2025▼ -26%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.7M
FY2025$1.3M
Net assets
$18.9M
FY2025▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$12.6M
FY2021$15.0M
FY2022$14.2M
FY2023$15.9M
FY2024$16.3M
FY2025$18.9M

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 Nov 2004.

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

Where the money goes

56 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 56% · $714K Management & general 20% · $258K Fundraising 24% · $313K

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

19 people listed on the 990.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Mark Cancilla
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
David Fair
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Diana Defino
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
See Propel Schools Foundation 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

Funds quality programs and academic excellence for students in public schools.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $714K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The propel schools foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports the work of propel's 13 schools and their 3,500 k-12 scholars. With the mission to catalyze the transformation of public education so that all children have access to high-performing public schools at the forefront.

$617Kprogram expense
02

Collegiate scholarships to propel schools' students.

$97Kprogram 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 · FY2024
Donor Advised Charitable Giving INCFY2024$60K
Bradford Child Care Services INCFY2024$25K
Vanguard Charitable Endowment ProgramFY2024$25K
The Pittsburgh FoundationFY2024$20K
School Facility Development INCFY2024$20K
McKeesport Hospital FoundationFY2024$20K
Howard & Nell E Miller Foundation 53795-4FY2024$15K
Michael Douglas Scichilone FoundationFY2024$12K
Total grants receivedfrom 13 funders$219K
See all 13 funders →
Grants paid · 61 grants · $5.6M · 2019–2024
Propel Schools INCPA · FY2024$470,985
Propel Charter School - MontourPA · FY2024$121,459
Unitemized GrantFY2024$96,927
Propel Charter School-HazelwoodPA · FY2024$13,977
Propel Charter School SunrisePA · FY2024$6,197
Propel Schools INCPA · FY2023$603,955
Propel Charter School - PitcairnPA · FY2023$162,573
Propel Charter Schools - EastPA · FY2023$126,079
Propel Charter School-MckeesportPA · FY2023$102,892
Propel Charter School-HazelwoodPA · FY2023$102,015
Unitemized GrantFY2023$70,396
Propel Charter School - MontourPA · FY2023$43,563
Propel Charter School SunrisePA · FY2023$11,369
Propel Schools INCPA · FY2022$562,286
Propel Charter School - PitcairnPA · FY2022$158,373
Unitemized GrantFY2022$57,479
Propel Charter Schools - EastPA · FY2022$50,931
Propel Charter School-HazelwoodPA · FY2022$40,246
See all 61 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$731K
Other incomeLn 4–11$171K
Money outPt IX
$1.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$714K
Managementcol C$258K
Fundraisingcol D$313K
Owns and owesPt X
$18.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$22.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A0
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$731K
Other incomeLn 4–11$171K
Gains on assetsLn 7$325K
Total revenueLn 12$2.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$495K
SavingsLn 2$669K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$15.4M
Total assetsLn 16$22.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.3M
Net assetsLn 32$18.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 630
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$538K$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$14.1M$15.4M
Total assetsLn 16$16.5M$22.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$191K$3.3M
Net assetsLn 32$16.3M$18.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$617K$617K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$97K$97K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$308K$90K$218K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$102K$29K$74K
Legal feesLn 11b$15K$15K
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$9K$9K
Investment management feesLn 11f$36K$36K
Information technologyLn 14$5K$5K
TravelLn 17$279$79$200
InterestLn 20$10K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$68K$53K$15K
All other expensesLn 24e$925$151$774
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.3M$714K$258K$313K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.7M$1.3M$1.4M$18.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $700K$1.7M−$1.0M$16.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$1.4M$711K$15.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.7M$1.0M$1.7M$14.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $887K$1.4M−$540K$15.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $1.3M$2.3M−$964K$12.6M 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,698,318 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $211,674$1,795,780
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $342,886$731,210
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $145,669$171,328
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $700,229$2,698,318
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,223,191$714,069
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $387,101$410,514
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $124,245$160,393
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,734,537$1,284,976
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,034,308$1,413,342
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
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 $2,698,318 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,795,780
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,795,780
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $406,464$406,464
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $324,746$324,746
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $171,328$171,328
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $324,746 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $577,792$2,698,318
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,284,976 across 13 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $617,142$617,142
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $96,927$96,927
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesManagement $89,976 · Fundraising $218,142$308,118
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $28,629 · Fundraising $73,767$102,396
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $14,781$14,781
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $16,138$16,138
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $9,300$9,300
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $36,182$36,182
IX-14 Information technologyFundraising $4,778$4,778
IX-17 TravelManagement $79 · Fundraising $200$279
IX-20 InterestManagement $9,629$9,629
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $53,107 · Fundraising $15,274$68,381
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $151 · Fundraising $774$925
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $714,069 · Management $257,972 · Fundraising $312,935$1,284,976
Part X · Balance sheet $22,205,589 assets, 11 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $3,706,734; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $366,690$495,176
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $171,349$669,432
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,353,312$1,961,504
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $14,070,341$15,372,743
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $16,476,723$22,205,589
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $191,075$153,786
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $191,075$3,319,608
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $13,755,308$15,198,728
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,530,340$3,687,253
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $16,285,648$18,885,981
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $16,476,723$22,205,589
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $18,885,981 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,698,318
XI-2 Total expenses$1,284,976
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,413,342
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$16,285,648
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,186,991
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$18,885,981

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

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