Center School FY2021 filing

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

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2021. 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.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$236K 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

FY2021 · 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
74%
of spending
74% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$236K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
6.5 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $1.5M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
6.5 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
$3.1M
53% of total assets
Liabilities are 53% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 10 voting members
9 of 10 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$2.8M
+0.5% vs prior year
Spent
$2.4M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$2.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.8M
FY2021+0.5%
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
$2.4M
FY2021▼ -2%
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
$2.8M
FY2021▲ +27%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending July 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2021 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 May 1990.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $1.8M Management & general 24% · $570K Fundraising 3% · $66K

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; $236K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Head of School
$131,435Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance & Oper
$104,715Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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.

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1 program · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

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

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 23-2557751) · Dispute this line
$1.8Mprogram 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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.8M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$700K
Other incomeLn 4–11$275K
Money outPt IX
$2.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$570K
Fundraisingcol D$66K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
11
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$700K
Government grantsLn 1e$274K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$29K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$93K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$31K
Other incomeLn 4–11$275K
Gains on assetsLn 7$115K
Total revenueLn 12$2.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1K
SavingsLn 2$1.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.3M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1K
Accounts receivableLn 4$9K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$32K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.0M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$2.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 537
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$29K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$1.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.2M$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.9M$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$5.7M$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.5M$3.1M
Net assetsLn 32$2.2M$2.8M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$418K$418K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$252K$157K$86K$10K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$863K$534K$296K$33K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$19K$10K$8K$913
Other employee benefitsLn 9$283K$217K$59K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$8K$6K$1K$133
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$9K$9K
Investment management feesLn 11f$8K$8K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$36K$36K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$11K$11K
Office expensesLn 13$17K$6K$11K
Information technologyLn 14$40K$8K$27K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$189K$179K$9K$812
TravelLn 17$2K$47$2K$124
InterestLn 20$132K$126K$6K$568
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$102K$97K$5K$440
InsuranceLn 23$23K$23K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24−$12K$13K−$31K$6K
All other expensesLn 24e$3K$514$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.4M$1.8M$570K$66K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled 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
FY2021 ViewingFiled 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $2,812,395 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $347,407$699,649
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,297,721$1,807,068
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,783$145,369
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $108,786$160,309
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,799,697$2,812,395
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $432,696$417,800
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,491,826$1,423,873
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $537,579$563,277
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,462,101$2,404,950
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $337,596$407,445
Part VI · Governance 9 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
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 $2,812,395 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$92,796
VIII-1e Government grants$274,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$332,853
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$28,983
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$699,649
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,807,068$1,807,068
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $30,757$30,757
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $182,466$182,466
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $114,612$114,612
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$25,290−$25,290
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $3,133$3,133
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,807,068 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $305,678$2,812,395
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,404,950 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $417,800$417,800
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $156,575 · Management $85,850 · Fundraising $9,581$252,006
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $534,215 · Management $295,548 · Fundraising $32,925$862,688
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,583 · Management $8,218 · Fundraising $913$18,714
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $216,504 · Management $59,224 · Fundraising $7,176$282,904
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $6,053 · Management $1,375 · Fundraising $133$7,561
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,000$3,000
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $9,000$9,000
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $7,685$7,685
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $36,173$36,173
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $11,288$11,288
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,725 · Management $11,136$16,861
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $8,101 · Management $27,445 · Fundraising $4,308$39,854
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $179,320 · Management $8,705 · Fundraising $812$188,837
IX-17 TravelPrograms $47 · Management $1,570 · Fundraising $124$1,741
IX-20 InterestPrograms $125,508 · Management $6,093 · Fundraising $568$132,169
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $97,191 · Management $4,718 · Fundraising $440$102,349
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $22,960$22,960
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $13,053 · Management −$30,803 · Fundraising $6,063−$11,687
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $514 · Fundraising $2,533$3,047
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,769,675 · Management $569,699 · Fundraising $65,576$2,404,950
Part X · Balance sheet $5,865,202 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $17,225$1,100
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,428,810$1,303,299
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $850$1,350
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $63,958$9,178
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $33,888$32,169
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,914,261$2,994,086
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,213,446$1,524,020
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,672,438$5,865,202
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $183,726$130,269
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $499,305$65,666
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $2,798,019$2,893,215
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,481,050$3,089,150
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,122,977$2,730,518
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $68,411$45,534
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,191,388$2,776,052
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,672,438$5,865,202
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,776,052 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,812,395
XI-2 Total expenses$2,404,950
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$407,445
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,191,388
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$177,219
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,776,052

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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