Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2011-01-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2013.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
1 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
7 people listed on the 990; $87K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).
Carla Smith’s $102K as Academy Director is at the 85th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1612 $100K–1M 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carla Smith | $102,500 | $150,000 | $150,512 | $139,792 | $86,524 | $85,000 |
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 Cornerstone Academy 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 2Yes
- Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo
Programs and updates
Educates students with rigorous academics to foster lifelong learning skills.
Questions for Cornerstone Academy
Your first name shows with your question. Cornerstone Academy answers here, for everyone.
Provided education and training that will be life transforming, and preparing students for lifes next level.
Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 20-8135048) · Dispute this lineBy the numbers
The FY2021 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY21 | End FY21 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $80K | $286K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $4K | $4K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $89K | $294K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $35K | $29K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $54K | $265K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5 | $87K | |||
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $182K | |||
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $20K | |||
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $20K | |||
| Legal feesLn 11b | $1K | |||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $1K | |||
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $495 | |||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $1K | $3K | ||
| OccupancyLn 16 | $333K | |||
| TravelLn 17 | $364 | $1K | ||
| Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18 | $7K | |||
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $13K | |||
| InsuranceLn 23 | $8K | |||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $10K | |||
| All other expensesLn 24e | $383 | |||
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $685K | $7K | $0 | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Feb 10, 2026 | $994K | $558K | $436K | $101K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024Filed with the IRS Jan 27, 2025 | $388K | $1.4M | −$972K | $133K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 28, 2023 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $215K | $742K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Dec 8, 2022 | $1.1M | $906K | $219K | $403K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Dec 16, 2021 | $905K | $685K | $220K | $265K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020Filed with the IRS Aug 4, 2021 | $296K | $540K | −$244K | $54K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $905,247 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 3 to look at
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $905,247 across 7 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $684,977 across 15 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $294,027 assets, 15 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $264,819 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file FY2021 from the IRS (about our sources) · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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