Center School

Claim this org

(tell your story, add context, and more) Claim it free, then get the verified mark for $2,500 a year, plus $10 a year for the ID check.

How does your 990 look to donors? Take the 10-Question Audit

Center School is dedicated to designing instructional programs which foster maximum development through small group and individual instruction.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2025. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-2557751) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 10 volunteers and 37 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
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $186K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
79% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$145K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
1.2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $2.2M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
1.2 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $53K
1 funder names it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.8M
44% of total assets
Liabilities are 44% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 13 voting members
12 of 13 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$3.9M
-5% vs prior year
Spent
$4.2M
To programs
79%
Net assets
$3.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.9M
FY2025▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.8M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$3.0M
FY2023$3.5M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$3.9M
Expenses
$4.2M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.5M
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$2.7M
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$3.9M
FY2025$4.2M
Net assets
$3.5M
FY2025▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.6M
FY2025$3.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending July 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1990.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $3.3M Management & general 20% · $815K Fundraising 1% · $55K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $145K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Head of School
$145,386Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Founder
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Melinda Wawrzyniak$145,386$148,723$139,187$132,729$131,435$129,993
Lisa Steiert——$105,018$100,555$104,715$99,381

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 Center School 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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Develops programs for maximum student growth through small group and individual teaching.

Questions for Center School

Tap to ask. Center School sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Center School answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $3.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The school is for children ages 6 to 15 of average to superior intelligence who experience reading and learning differences in large classroom settings.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2024. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-2557751) · Dispute this line
$3.3Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$53K
Grants paid · 7 grants · $4.5M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$869,508
Unitemized GrantFY2023$813,045
Unitemized GrantFY2023$813,045
Unitemized GrantFY2022$658,968
Unitemized GrantFY2021$451,490
Unitemized GrantFY2020$417,800
Unitemized GrantFY2019$432,696

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.9M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$627K
Other incomeLn 4–11$254K
Money outPt IX
$4.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$815K
Fundraisingcol D$55K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$418K
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$627K
Government grantsLn 1e$77K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$6K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$100K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$72K
Other incomeLn 4–11$254K
Total revenueLn 12$3.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$6K
SavingsLn 2$412K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$418K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$2K
Accounts receivableLn 4$151K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$48K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$2.2M
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.8M
Net assetsLn 32$3.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 537
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
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$891K$418K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.9M$2.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.6M$3.5M
Total assetsLn 16$6.6M$6.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M$2.8M
Net assetsLn 32$3.6M$3.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$870K$870K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$161K$122K$37K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.6M$1.0M$541K$25K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$49K$31K$16K$850
Other employee benefitsLn 9$168K$133K$35K$36
Payroll taxesLn 10$132K$87K$43K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$94K$75K$15K$3K
Investment management feesLn 11f$11K$11K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$41K$33K$7K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$14K$11K$2K$480
Information technologyLn 14$31K$25K$5K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$175K$166K$8K$751
TravelLn 17$34K$27K$6K$1K
InterestLn 20$157K$149K$7K$675
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$192K$183K$9K$827
InsuranceLn 23$41K$33K$7K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$414K$331K$68K$15K
All other expensesLn 24e−$16K−$13K−$3K−$567
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.2M$3.3M$815K$55K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Feb 18, 2026 $3.9M$4.2M−$275K$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Feb 28, 2025 $4.1M$3.9M$205K$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS May 30, 2024 $3.5M$3.3M$176K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Mar 30, 2023 $3.0M$2.7M$267K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Mar 24, 2022 $2.8M$2.4M$407K$2.8M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Mar 22, 2021 $2.8M$2.5M$338K$2.2M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990
Part I · Summary $3,896,598 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $504,367$626,511
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $3,136,388$2,944,687
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $78,289$71,618
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $373,445$253,782
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,092,489$3,896,598
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $813,045$869,508
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,852,021$2,114,295
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,222,600$1,187,874
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,887,666$4,171,677
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $204,823−$275,079
Part VI · Governance 12 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members12
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 $3,896,598 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$100,050
VIII-1e Government grants$76,573
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$449,888
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$6,011
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$626,511
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,944,687$2,944,687
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $71,618$71,618
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $252,178$252,178
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$33,291−$33,291
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $34,895$34,895
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,944,687 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $325,400$3,896,598
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,171,677 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $869,508$869,508
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $122,471 · Management $37,064 · Fundraising $1,611$161,146
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,037,630 · Management $541,179 · Fundraising $25,379$1,604,188
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $31,390 · Management $16,351 · Fundraising $850$48,591
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $132,945 · Management $35,471 · Fundraising $36$168,452
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $87,228 · Management $42,716 · Fundraising $1,974$131,918
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $75,233 · Management $15,409 · Fundraising $3,335$93,977
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $10,783$10,783
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $32,926 · Management $6,744 · Fundraising $1,460$41,130
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $10,823 · Management $2,217 · Fundraising $480$13,520
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24,740 · Management $5,067 · Fundraising $1,097$30,904
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $165,788 · Management $8,048 · Fundraising $751$174,587
IX-17 TravelPrograms $27,429 · Management $5,618 · Fundraising $1,216$34,263
IX-20 InterestPrograms $149,111 · Management $7,239 · Fundraising $675$157,025
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $182,583 · Management $8,864 · Fundraising $827$192,274
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,219 · Management $6,804 · Fundraising $1,473$41,496
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $331,333 · Management $67,862 · Fundraising $14,688$413,883
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms −$12,784 · Management −$2,617 · Fundraising −$567−$15,968
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,301,573 · Management $814,819 · Fundraising $55,285$4,171,677
Part X · Balance sheet $6,370,896 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $628$6,196
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $890,072$411,763
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $554$1,900
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $121,304$151,339
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $53,875$47,932
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,631,498$3,547,092
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $1,879,991$2,204,674
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,577,922$6,370,896
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $155,519$138,801
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $118,424$123,082
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $2,630,465$2,541,074
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $25,194$20,242
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,929,602$2,823,199
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,573,138$3,395,792
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $75,182$151,905
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,648,320$3,547,697
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,577,922$6,370,896
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,547,697 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,896,598
XI-2 Total expenses$4,171,677
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$275,079
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,648,320
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$174,456
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,547,697

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

The names, titles, and financial information shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records. More

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown. A filing can only be corrected by the organization filing an amended return with the IRS; the corrected information appears here at our next update.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing, and less than the filing contains. Our pages do not display home addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, contact the filing organization or the IRS directly.

All figures come from public IRS Form 990 filings. Comparisons are computed from the filing against similar orgs. They are not a rating.