The primary mission of Independence Charter School is to provide anintellectually stimulating curriculum with an international focus,emphasizing the arts, languages, ideas, and histories, from an array ofcultures from around the world. To meet its goals, the School drawsheavily on the resources available in philadelphia - the museums,historic landmarks, businesses, schools, parks, and communities, andfamilies.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$268K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $559K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$268K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $5K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$15.5M
125% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 125% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$14.4M
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$12.8M
To programs
76%
Net assets
−$3.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$14.4M
FY2021▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$13.4M
FY2021$14.4M
FY2022$15.9M
FY2023$17.1M
FY2024$19.0M
FY2025$18.2M
Expenses
$12.8M
FY2021▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$11.6M
FY2021$12.8M
FY2022$16.7M
FY2023$18.7M
FY2024$20.6M
FY2025$20.9M
Net assets
−$3.1M
FY2021▲ +35%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$4.8M
FY2021−$3.1M
FY2022−$3.9M
FY2023−$5.5M
FY2024−$7.2M
FY2025−$9.8M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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 Jul 2001.

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

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $9.8M Management & general 24% · $3.0M

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

12 people listed on the 990; $268K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$150,227Pt VII · Sec A
Principal
$117,428Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kristen Long’s $161K as Principal is at the 20th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M 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 · 7 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Tanya Ruley-Mayo$105,523$169,365$159,370$150,227$150,227$150,227
Kristen Long$161,063$136,223$130,848$124,207$117,428$111,093
Odamis Fernandez-Sheinbaum$119,019—————
Kerry Routh$116,887—————
Ramzy Andrawos$114,742$107,269$102,562———
Patricia Prendergast$114,007—————
Tracey Kohl$100,480—————

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.

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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

Educates students with an international focus, emphasizing arts and diverse cultures, using Philadelphia's resources.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $9.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The primary mission of independence charter school is to provide anintellectually stimulating curriculum with an international focus,emphasizing the arts, languages, ideas, and histories, from an array ofcultures from around the world.

$9.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$5K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$14.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$11.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$332K
Money outPt IX
$12.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.8M
Managementcol C$3.0M
Owns and owesPt X
−$3.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.7M
Total assetsLn 16$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$11.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$13K
Other incomeLn 4–11$332K
Total revenueLn 12$14.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.4M
SavingsLn 2$4.3M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M
Other assetsLn 15$4.6M
Total assetsLn 16$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.5M
Net assetsLn 32−$3.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5149
VolunteersI 6228
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.6M$5.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$530K$1.3M
Total assetsLn 16$10.3M$12.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$15.2M$15.5M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.8M−$3.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$5.3M$4.2M$1.2M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$882K$671K$212K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$947K$710K$237K
Payroll taxesLn 10$451K$329K$122K
Management feesLn 11a$850K$314K$535K
Legal feesLn 11b$14K$14K
Accounting feesLn 11c$24K$24K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$25K$25K
Office expensesLn 13$422K$198K$224K
Information technologyLn 14$486K$364K$121K
OccupancyLn 16$2.0M$1.8M$200K
TravelLn 17$68K$40K$28K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$16K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$231K$194K$37K
InsuranceLn 23$111K$34K$77K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$943K$943K
All other expensesLn 24e$35K$35K
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.8M$9.8M$3.0M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $18.2M$20.9M−$2.6M−$9.8M 990 PDF
FY2024 $19.0M$20.6M−$1.7M−$7.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $17.1M$18.7M−$1.6M−$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $15.9M$16.7M−$789K−$3.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $14.4M$12.8M$1.6M−$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $13.4M$11.6M$1.7M−$4.8M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $14,425,850 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,897,270$2,463,219
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $11,106,978$11,616,924
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $44,070$13,444
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $314,545$332,263
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $13,362,863$14,425,850
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 $6,940,195$7,601,212
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,705,611$5,220,570
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $11,645,806$12,821,782
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,717,057$1,604,068
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $14,425,850 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,221,412
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$241,807
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,463,219
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $11,616,924$11,616,924
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $13,444$13,444
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $332,263$332,263
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $11,949,187 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $13,444$14,425,850
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $12,821,782 across 17 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,150,755 · Management $1,170,726$5,321,481
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $670,621 · Management $211,775$882,396
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $709,886 · Management $236,629$946,515
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $329,099 · Management $121,721$450,820
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $314,420 · Management $535,365$849,785
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $13,728$13,728
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $24,192$24,192
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $25,030$25,030
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $198,226 · Management $223,532$421,758
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $364,427 · Management $121,476$485,903
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,796,648 · Management $199,628$1,996,276
IX-17 TravelPrograms $40,164 · Management $27,910$68,074
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $16,017$16,017
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $193,757 · Management $36,906$230,663
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $34,408 · Management $76,586$110,994
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $942,903$942,903
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $35,247$35,247
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,796,578 · Management $3,025,204 · Fundraising $0$12,821,782
Part X · Balance sheet $12,377,005 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,682,693$1,360,839
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,962,298$4,338,396
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $643,236$689,022
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $17,714$14,336
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $122,699$144,822
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $529,682$1,273,189
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,381,882$4,556,401
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $10,340,204$12,377,005
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $524,511$675,310
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $26,723$61,164
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $14,614,405$14,776,212
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $15,165,639$15,512,686
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$4,825,435−$3,135,681
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$4,825,435−$3,135,681
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $10,340,204$12,377,005
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$3,135,681 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$14,425,850
XI-2 Total expenses$12,821,782
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,604,068
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$4,825,435
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$85,686
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$3,135,681

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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