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The Cooper School FY2023 filing

Tax-deductible

Charleston, SC501(c)(3)EducationEIN 20-8818159Revenue $2.6M in FY2023

On file with the IRSthecooperschool.org13 Oakdale Pl, 29407-7260 · Charleston, SCTax-exempt since Aug 2007School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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We elevate education by recognizing how children learn is as important as what they learn.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$161K 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

FY2023 · 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $237K a year · 8% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$161K
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
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.4 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $14K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.1M
62% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 62% of assets; 50% to 65%.
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
$2.6M
+7% vs prior year
Spent
$2.6M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$1.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$2.6M
FY2023▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$2.4M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$3.3M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$2.6M
FY2023▲ +30%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$1.8M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.6M
FY2024$3.2M
FY2025$3.3M
Net assets
$1.9M
FY2023▼ -0.6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025$2.4M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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 2007.

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

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $2.3M Management & general 8% · $212K Fundraising 3% · $90K

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

11 people listed on the 990; $161K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Franci Bell
Headmaster
$160,899Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Steffi Green
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Abigail Walsh
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Franci Bell Resigned’s $179K as Head of School is at the 77th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Franci Bell Resigned$179,483$190,576———
Franci Bell——$160,899$149,135$95,300
Merlin Henkel$46,762————

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 The Cooper School 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

Improves education by focusing on how children learn, not just what they learn.

Questions for The Cooper School

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

The Cooper School offers a program that is experimental and personal, challenging students to think critically and to express themselves in a variety of meaningful ways.

$2.3Mprogram 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
Indian River Community FoundationFY2024$7K
Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation INCFY2024$5K
Baird Foundation INCFY2024$2K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$14K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 2 grants · $1.0M · 2023–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$555,109
Unitemized GrantFY2023$479,434

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$307K
Investment incomeLn 3$19K
Money outPt IX
$2.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$212K
Fundraisingcol D$90K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b11
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$307K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$19K
Other incomeLn 4–11$730
Total revenueLn 12$2.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 522
VolunteersI 625
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M$1.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M$3.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.8M$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M$1.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$161K$71K$90K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$1.1M
Other employee benefitsLn 9$76K$76K
Payroll taxesLn 10$109K$102K$7K
Accounting feesLn 11c$29K$15K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$223K$145K$78K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$82K$82K
Office expensesLn 13$192K$80K$22K$90K
OccupancyLn 16$142K$142K
InterestLn 20$84K$84K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$100K$100K
InsuranceLn 23$50K$50K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$226K$226K$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$599$599$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.6M$2.3M$212K$90K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.7M$3.3M$370K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $3.3M$3.2M$170K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $2.6M$2.6M−$12K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.4M$2.0M$423K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.1M$1.8M$233K$1.4M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,567,361 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $0$306,542
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,075,486$2,240,991
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $245$19,098
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $332,338$730
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,408,069$2,567,361
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 $1,171,418$1,450,432
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $813,534$1,129,004
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,984,952$2,579,436
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $423,117−$12,075
Part VI · Governance 11 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members11
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 $2,567,361 across 13 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $16,163 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$306,542
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$306,542
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,224,828 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,224,828
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $19,098 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$19,098
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $730 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$730
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,260,819 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,567,361
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,579,436 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $70,899 · Management $90,000$160,899
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,104,692$1,104,692
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $75,669$75,669
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $102,287 · Management $6,885$109,172
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $14,666 · Management $14,666$29,332
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $144,940 · Management $78,048$222,988
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $82,494$82,494
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $80,002 · Management $22,346 · Fundraising $89,849$192,197
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $141,897$141,897
IX-20 InterestPrograms $83,562$83,562
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $100,003$100,003
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $50,315$50,315
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $225,617 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$225,617
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $599 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$599
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,277,642 · Management $211,945 · Fundraising $89,849$2,579,436
Part X · Balance sheet $4,921,877 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,300,302$1,374,794
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,845$15,840
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $32,999$181,109
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,427,491$3,350,134
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,766,637$4,921,877
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $234$12,331
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $671,888$900,288
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,888,809$3,056,124
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,877,828$1,865,753
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,877,828$1,865,753
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,766,637$4,921,877
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,865,753 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,567,361
XI-2 Total expenses$2,579,436
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$12,075
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,877,828
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,865,753

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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