Catalyst Connection is an economic development organization whose mission is to advance the performance of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in southwestern pennsylvania by accelerating their growth and productivity improvements.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 27 volunteers and 35 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
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 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $212K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $2.6M
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.4M
41% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 41% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
23
of 23 voting members
Looks good: 23 of 23 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$13.5M
+40% vs prior year
Spent
$13.0M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$5.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$13.5M
FY2025▲ +40%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.5M
FY2021$7.2M
FY2022$8.9M
FY2023$9.7M
FY2024$9.6M
FY2025$13.5M
Expenses
$13.0M
FY2025▲ +26%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.2M
FY2021$7.3M
FY2022$9.1M
FY2023$9.7M
FY2024$10.3M
FY2025$13.0M
Net assets
$5.0M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.5M
FY2021$5.4M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$5.2M
FY2024$4.6M
FY2025$5.0M

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

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1984.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $11.9M Management & general 8% · $1.0M Fundraising 1% · $92K

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

34 people listed on the 990; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
& Chief Executive Officer
$363,120Pt VII · Sec A
Administration & Chief Financial Off
$227,721Pt VII · Sec A
Organizational Development
$206,937Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Business Develop
$202,477Pt VII · Sec A
Quality/Process Improvement
$198,625Pt VII · Sec A
Continuous Improvement
$190,479Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Director
$170,750Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Petra Mitchell President’s $363K as & Chief Executive Officer is at the 44th percentile of top reported officer pay among 139 $10–100M science & technology 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Petra Mitchell President$363,120$329,346$315,596———
Petra Mitchell———$289,524$243,332$294,425
Whit Little Vice President of$227,721$194,229————
Connie Palucka Managing—$220,990————
Jeanne Straw Chief Financial——$219,683———
Connie Palucka Vice——$212,412———
David Rea Managing Director$206,937$196,984$189,291———
Jeanne Straw———$203,886$178,755$197,442

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 Catalyst Connection 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

Boosts Southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturing through training, technology support, and education.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $11.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Small manufacturer supplier initiatives are initiatives that assist manufacturers in entering supply chains of larger original equipment manufacturers including the department of defense, market introduction (marcellus shale), new product development (additive and robotics), adopting export (itar), and process control technologies (iso…

$5.6Mprogram expense
02

Manufacturing extension partnership (mep) and consulting activities are organized to develop and educate the region's small and medium-sized manufacturers. Mep provides professional services to manufacturers that enhance the companies' competitiveness and strengthen their employment base while providing for economic contributions to the…

$4.1Mprogram expense
03

Workforce

Provide training and education through work-based school to work programs, develop a properly skilled workforce to support manufacturing and technology based enterprises.

$2.3Mprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 7 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$13.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$86K
Money outPt IX
$13.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$11.9M
Managementcol C$1.0M
Fundraisingcol D$92K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$8.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
34
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a23
IndependentVI 1b23
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$9.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$86K
Total revenueLn 12$13.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.8M
SavingsLn 2$854K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$753K
Other assetsLn 15$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$8.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$5.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 627
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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$1.3M$2.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$898K$753K
Total assetsLn 16$7.6M$8.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M$3.4M
Net assetsLn 32$4.6M$5.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$595K$549K$45K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.5M$3.3M$251K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$108K$108K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$554K$507K$47K
Payroll taxesLn 10$372K$346K$27K
Legal feesLn 11b$22K$22K
Accounting feesLn 11c$48K$48K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$92K$92K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$6.2M$6.1M$93K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$116K$116K
Office expensesLn 13$273K$213K$59K
Information technologyLn 14$206K$106K$100K
OccupancyLn 16$318K$241K$77K
TravelLn 17$99K$82K$17K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$145K$145K
InsuranceLn 23$41K$16K$25K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$123K$103K$20K
All other expensesLn 24e$190K$137K$53K
Total functional expensesLn 25$13.0M$11.9M$1.0M$92K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $13.5M$13.0M$431K$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.6M$10.3M−$671K$4.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $9.7M$9.7M−$3K$5.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.9M$9.1M−$158K$5.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $7.2M$7.3M−$106K$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.5M$7.2M−$762K$5.5M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $13,475,224 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,076,557$10,726,892
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,498,350$2,662,512
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $68,918$85,820
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,643,825$13,475,224
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 $4,738,991$5,171,993
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,576,043$7,872,369
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,315,034$13,044,362
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$671,209$430,862
Part VI · Governance 23 of 23 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body23
VI-1b Independent voting members23
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 $13,475,224 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$9,839,228
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$887,664
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,726,892
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,662,512$2,662,512
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $85,820$85,820
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,662,512 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $85,820$13,475,224
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $13,044,362 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $549,285 · Management $45,313$594,598
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,291,174 · Management $251,495$3,542,669
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $108,173$108,173
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $507,398 · Management $46,801$554,199
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $345,641 · Management $26,713$372,354
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $21,783$21,783
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $48,249$48,249
IX-11d Lobbying feesFundraising $92,431$92,431
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,106,190 · Management $92,786$6,198,976
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $115,677$115,677
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $213,463 · Management $59,372$272,835
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $105,890 · Management $99,829$205,719
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $241,240 · Management $77,022$318,262
IX-17 TravelPrograms $82,055 · Management $16,793$98,848
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $144,980$144,980
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $15,747 · Management $25,216$40,963
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $103,408 · Management $19,866$123,274
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $137,214 · Management $53,158$190,372
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $11,922,555 · Management $1,029,376 · Fundraising $92,431$13,044,362
Part X · Balance sheet $8,437,278 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $343,919; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $627,047$1,816,036
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $689,297$854,077
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,990,930$550,624
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $945,006$2,409,926
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $66,304$48,335
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $898,302$753,322
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,895,682$1,661,039
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,569,144$8,437,278
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $999,500$1,654,109
X-19 Deferred revenue$14,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,998,956$1,767,619
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,998,456$3,435,728
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,002,954$3,099,641
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,567,734$1,901,909
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,570,688$5,001,550
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,569,144$8,437,278
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,001,550 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$13,475,224
XI-2 Total expenses$13,044,362
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$430,862
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,570,688
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,001,550

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

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