The Cooper School FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Charleston, SC501(c)(3)EducationEIN 20-8818159Revenue $3.3M in FY2024

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.
84¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$191K 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
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
84%
of spending
Looks good: 84% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$191K
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
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.0 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
$2.6M
56% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 56% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.3M
+30% vs prior year
Spent
$3.2M
To programs
84%
Net assets
$2.1M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$3.3M
FY2024▲ +30%
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
$3.2M
FY2024▲ +23%
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
$2.1M
FY2024▲ +11%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 Aug 2007.

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

Where the money goes

84 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 84% · $2.6M Management & general 13% · $396K Fundraising 4% · $115K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $191K 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
$190,576Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$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.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.6M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

At the cooper school, we redefine learning. Our unique approach values individuality, fosters personal growth, and develops well-rounded and well prepared students ready for an ever-changing world.

$2.6Mprogram 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
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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.3M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.1M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$143K
Other incomeLn 4–11$46K
Money outPt IX
$3.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.6M
Managementcol C$396K
Fundraisingcol D$115K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$143K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$3.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$45K
Other incomeLn 4–11$46K
Total revenueLn 12$3.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$241K
SavingsLn 2$1.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.3M
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M
Net assetsLn 32$2.1M
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$1.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M$3.3M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M$4.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$2.6M
Net assetsLn 32$1.9M$2.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$479K$479K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$191K$95K$76K$19K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$949K$73K$44K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$11K$9K$1K$560
Other employee benefitsLn 9$81K$68K$10K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$124K$103K$15K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$39K$39K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$253K$167K$86K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$111K$100K$10K
Office expensesLn 13$59K$42K$8K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$32K$23K$3K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$284K$237K$38K$9K
TravelLn 17$87K$87K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$9K$8K$1K$457
InterestLn 20$26K$26K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$109K$91K$13K$6K
InsuranceLn 23$53K$52K$733$312
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$143K$138K$4K$443
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.2M$2.6M$396K$115K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.7M$3.3M$370K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $3.3M$3.2M$170K$2.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,329,685 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $306,542$143,184
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,240,991$3,095,940
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $19,098$44,946
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $730$45,615
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,567,361$3,329,685
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$479,434
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,450,432$1,472,110
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,129,004$1,208,454
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,579,436$3,159,998
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$12,075$169,687
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $3,329,685 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$143,184
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$143,184
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $3,095,940$3,095,940
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $44,946$44,946
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $44,311$44,311
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,304$1,304
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,097,244 · Excluded from tax $89,257$3,329,685
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,159,998 across 19 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $479,434$479,434
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $95,288 · Management $76,230 · Fundraising $19,058$190,576
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $948,661 · Management $72,582 · Fundraising $44,192$1,065,435
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,241 · Management $1,317 · Fundraising $560$11,118
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $67,570 · Management $9,632 · Fundraising $4,094$81,296
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $102,802 · Management $14,654 · Fundraising $6,229$123,685
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $2,638$2,638
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,507$38,507
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $167,395 · Management $86,053$253,448
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $100,481 · Fundraising $10,121$110,602
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $42,025 · Management $7,600 · Fundraising $9,080$58,705
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $23,049 · Management $3,286 · Fundraising $5,981$32,316
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $236,887 · Management $38,045 · Fundraising $9,419$284,351
IX-17 TravelPrograms $86,856$86,856
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $7,536 · Management $1,074 · Fundraising $457$9,067
IX-20 InterestManagement $26,496$26,496
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $90,785 · Management $12,941 · Fundraising $5,500$109,226
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $52,181 · Management $733 · Fundraising $312$53,226
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $138,401 · Management $4,172 · Fundraising $443$143,016
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,648,592 · Management $395,960 · Fundraising $115,446$3,159,998
Part X · Balance sheet $4,695,112 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,374,794$240,606
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$1,063,387
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $15,840$39,321
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $181,109$11,166
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,350,134$3,320,001
X-14 Intangible assets$20,631
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,921,877$4,695,112
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $12,331$14,855
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $900,288$544,665
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,056,124$2,625,873
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,865,753$2,069,239
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,865,753$2,069,239
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,921,877$4,695,112
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,069,239 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,329,685
XI-2 Total expenses$3,159,998
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$169,687
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,865,753
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$33,799
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,069,239

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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