Pace School is a placement option for School districts in allegheny and surrounding counties and serves children, kindergarten through age 21, with emotional challenges or autism.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$325K 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

FY2022 · 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $118K a year · 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$325K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $398K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$849K
11% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 11% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.5M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$8.7M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$6.5M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$8.5M
FY2022▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$8.2M
FY2022$8.5M
FY2023$8.0M
FY2024$9.9M
FY2025$9.1M
Expenses
$8.7M
FY2022▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$7.8M
FY2022$8.7M
FY2023$8.3M
FY2024$10.1M
FY2025$9.4M
Net assets
$6.5M
FY2022▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$6.7M
FY2022$6.5M
FY2023$6.3M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$5.7M

From the FY2022 Form 990 (year ending June 2022) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 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 Nov 1967.

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

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $8.0M Management & general 8% · $696K Fundraising 0% · $13K

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

23 people listed on the 990; $325K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2021); the FY2022 filing did not itemize Part VII
$171,049Pt VII · Sec A
$153,985Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member (resigned in January)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member (resigned in May)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Karen Shepherd’s $228K as CEO (thru June 2024) is at the 88th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Karen Shepherd$227,740$219,684$200,805$171,049$161,096
James Mele$193,836$195,124$179,950$153,985$147,098
Amira McLemore Wolfson$118,383————
Melissa Dirling$105,758————
Steven Reubi$58,531————

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 children with emotional challenges or autism, kindergarten through age 21.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $8.0M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Pace encompasses a variety of services under its umbrella. The largest service is the approved private school program. The aps is a licensed private special education school which has been "approved" by the pa department of education to serve students with emotional disturbance and autism.

$8.0Mprogram 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
See all 7 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $500K · 2021–2021
Pace School Endowment FundPA · FY2021$500,000

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$779K
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Money outPt IX
$8.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.0M
Managementcol C$696K
Fundraisingcol D$13K
Owns and owesPt X
$6.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$849K
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$779K
Government grantsLn 1e$220K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$14K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$26K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$1K
Total revenueLn 12$8.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$458K
SavingsLn 2$2.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4.2M
Other assetsLn 15$231K
Total assetsLn 16$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$849K
Net assetsLn 32$6.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5119
VolunteersI 60
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.0M$2.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.1M$4.2M
Total assetsLn 16$7.5M$7.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$771K$849K
Net assetsLn 32$6.7M$6.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$500K$500K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$498K$226K$272K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.0M$3.8M$179K$5K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$282K$269K$13K$327
Other employee benefitsLn 9$746K$710K$35K$861
Payroll taxesLn 10$387K$369K$17K$448
Legal feesLn 11b$61K$61K
Accounting feesLn 11c$31K$680$30K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$846K$768K$78K
Office expensesLn 13$272K$266K$3K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$305K$295K$5K$4K
OccupancyLn 16$111K$111K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$3K$661
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$604K$604K
InsuranceLn 23$60K$60K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$17K$15K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.7M$8.0M$696K$13K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $9.1M$9.4M−$328K$5.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.9M$10.1M−$215K$6.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.0M$8.3M−$278K$6.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $8.5M$8.7M−$179K$6.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.2M$7.8M$408K$6.7M 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 FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,521,268 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $797,062$779,017
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,429,459$7,744,414
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,228$1,188
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $739−$3,351
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $8,232,488$8,521,268
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$500,000
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,866,472$5,890,115
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,957,710$2,310,396
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,824,182$8,700,511
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $408,306−$179,243
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
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 $8,521,268 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$26,249
VIII-1d Related organizations$210,140
VIII-1e Government grants$220,297
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$322,331
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$14,327
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$779,017
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,744,414$7,744,414
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,188$1,188
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$3,351−$3,351
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,744,414 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$2,163$8,521,268
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,700,511 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $500,000$500,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $226,040 · Management $272,288$498,328
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,791,915 · Management $179,235 · Fundraising $4,772$3,975,922
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $269,406 · Management $12,734 · Fundraising $327$282,467
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $710,194 · Management $35,016 · Fundraising $861$746,071
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $369,404 · Management $17,475 · Fundraising $448$387,327
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $60,542$60,542
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $680 · Management $30,382$31,062
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $768,156 · Management $78,329$846,485
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $266,075 · Management $2,921 · Fundraising $2,864$271,860
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $295,496 · Management $4,970 · Fundraising $4,043$304,509
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $111,437$111,437
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $3,372 · Management $661$4,033
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $603,843$603,843
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $59,923$59,923
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $15,391 · Management $1,311$16,702
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,991,332 · Management $695,864 · Fundraising $13,315$8,700,511
Part X · Balance sheet $7,387,935 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $49,689$458,125
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,917,225$2,380,396
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $83,779$33,171
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $92,112$95,487
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $3,136,401$4,190,085
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $210,140$230,671
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,489,346$7,387,935
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $555,521$618,022
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $215,340$230,671
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $770,861$848,693
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,718,485$6,539,242
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,718,485$6,539,242
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,489,346$7,387,935
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $6,539,242 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,521,268
XI-2 Total expenses$8,700,511
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$179,243
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,718,485
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$6,539,242

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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