Helping ed. Orgs. Achieve results through policy analysis/evaluation/strategic support.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6 volunteers and 94 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $733K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$4.3M
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $10.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
14
named funders · $4.5M
Looks good: 14 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.0M
18% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 18% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$23.6M
-17% vs prior year
Spent
$27.1M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$13.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$23.6M
FY2025▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$18.6M
FY2021$18.6M
FY2022$18.1M
FY2023$34.8M
FY2024$28.3M
FY2025$23.6M
Expenses
$27.1M
FY2025▼ -13%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$18.7M
FY2021$17.1M
FY2022$17.4M
FY2023$26.2M
FY2024$31.1M
FY2025$27.1M
Net assets
$13.5M
FY2025▼ -20%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.7M
FY2021$10.2M
FY2022$10.9M
FY2023$19.5M
FY2024$16.9M
FY2025$13.5M

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 Mar 2008.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $22.5M Management & general 15% · $4.1M Fundraising 2% · $533K

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

19 people listed on the 990; $4.3M 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
President/Senior Partner Until 10/24
$493,811Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Partner, Policy & Evaluation
$444,722Pt VII · Sec A
Pres./Managing Partner as of 10/24
$387,975Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Partner, Policy & Evaluation
$363,381Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Partner, Policy & Evaluation
$318,515Pt VII · Sec A
Partner, Policy & Evaluation
$314,892Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Partner & COO
$309,635Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Partner, Strategic Advising
$305,767Pt VII · Sec A

Mary K Wells’s $494K as President/Senior Partner Until 10/24 is at the 88th 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Mary K Wells$493,811—————
Andrew Rotherham$444,722$431,670$332,738$360,201$345,011$264,294
Mary Wells—$372,769$335,086$393,659$369,372$361,140
Rebecca Gifford Goldberg$387,975$370,297————
Jennifer Schiess$363,381$344,792$253,872$295,978$198,149—
Rebecca Goldberg——$343,272$311,305$270,306$288,860
Julie Squire$318,515$318,500$259,930$272,123$202,233—
Melissa King$314,892—$226,628$182,079——

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 Bellwether Education Partners INC 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

Supports education organizations from early childhood through college with strategic planning, policy analysis, and leadership development to improve student outcomes.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $22.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Since our founding in 2010, we have worked to develop and amplify the insights, innovations, and ideas necessary to advance educational options in this country BY:1. Supporting mission-driven clients from school systems and public agencies to nonprofits and philanthropies as they navigate tough DECISIONS2.

$22.5Mprogram 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 14 funders →
Grants paid · 63 grants · $9.5M · 2019–2024
Catalyst Visionary Education DBA Vistionary Stem AcademyFY2024$16,966
University of South CarolinaFY2024$7,582
Edbuild INCNJ · FY2023$1,676,921
The Childrens Scholarship FundNY · FY2023$400,000
Edward Charles FoundationCA · FY2023$400,000
Paul Quinn CollegeTX · FY2023$100,000
Primary Class INC DBA OdysseyFY2023$100,000
Greatschools INCCA · FY2023$100,000
Families EmpoweredTX · FY2023$100,000
Groundswell Network INCNY · FY2023$24,000
University of South CarolinaFY2023$10,000
4mativ Technologies INCFY2022$450,000
YouthpriseMN · FY2022$150,000
Citybridge EducationDC · FY2022$150,000
See all 63 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$23.6M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$462K
Money outPt IX
$27.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$22.5M
Managementcol C$4.1M
Fundraisingcol D$533K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M
Total assetsLn 16$16.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A13
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$17.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$462K
Total revenueLn 12$23.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
SavingsLn 2$855K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$114K
Other assetsLn 15$903K
Total assetsLn 16$16.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M
Net assetsLn 32$13.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 594
VolunteersI 66
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$2.7M$2.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11.7M$10.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$109K$114K
Total assetsLn 16$21.4M$16.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.5M$3.0M
Net assetsLn 32$16.9M$13.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$225K$225K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$2.9M$2.1M$478K$255K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$16.2M$14.3M$1.7M$222K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$572K$501K$62K$9K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$1.2M$824K$334K$19K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.3M$1.1M$150K$24K
Legal feesLn 11b$51K$51K
Accounting feesLn 11c$115K$115K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.3M$1.0M$267K$967
Advertising and promotionLn 12$4K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$336K$214K$122K
OccupancyLn 16$90K$78K$10K$2K
TravelLn 17$1.5M$1.0M$486K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$67K$67K
InsuranceLn 23$87K$75K$10K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$982K$224K
All other expensesLn 24e$40K$422$39K
Total functional expensesLn 25$27.1M$22.5M$4.1M$533K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $23.6M$27.1M−$3.5M$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $28.3M$31.1M−$2.8M$16.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $34.8M$26.2M$8.7M$19.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $18.1M$17.4M$731K$10.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $18.6M$17.1M$1.5M$10.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $18.6M$18.7M−$190K$8.7M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $23,589,798 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,276,174$5,207,249
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $22,627,767$17,920,914
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $416,549$461,635
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $28,320,490$23,589,798
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $3,140,921$224,548
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $21,568,733$22,069,986
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $6,394,731$4,837,606
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $31,104,385$27,132,140
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,783,895−$3,542,342
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $23,589,798 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,207,249
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,207,249
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,920,914$17,920,914
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $461,635$461,635
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,920,914 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $461,635$23,589,798
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $27,132,140 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $224,548$224,548
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $2,124,925 · Management $477,803 · Fundraising $254,786$2,857,514
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $14,289,254 · Management $1,687,428 · Fundraising $221,511$16,198,193
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $501,125 · Management $62,033 · Fundraising $8,593$571,751
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $823,822 · Management $334,271 · Fundraising $19,029$1,177,122
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,091,615 · Management $149,501 · Fundraising $24,290$1,265,406
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $51,483$51,483
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $114,735$114,735
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,041,314 · Management $267,371 · Fundraising $967$1,309,652
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $3,787$3,787
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $214,124 · Management $122,105$336,229
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $77,945 · Management $9,934 · Fundraising $2,133$90,012
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,046,173 · Management $486,397$1,532,570
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $66,645$66,645
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $74,851 · Management $9,598 · Fundraising $2,061$86,510
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $981,910 · Management $224,176$1,206,086
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $422 · Management $39,475$39,897
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $22,495,815 · Management $4,102,955 · Fundraising $533,370$27,132,140
Part X · Balance sheet $16,563,385 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,389,110$1,519,106
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,320,065$854,616
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $2,116,634$783,893
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,448,620$1,698,691
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $384,902$336,477
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $108,632$114,082
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $11,667,926$10,353,830
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,006,983$902,690
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $21,442,872$16,563,385
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,408,217$2,666,647
X-19 Deferred revenue$360,166
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $106,900$21,759
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,515,117$3,048,572
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,086,956$10,357,394
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $4,840,799$3,157,419
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $16,927,755$13,514,813
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $21,442,872$16,563,385
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,514,813 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$23,589,798
XI-2 Total expenses$27,132,140
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,542,342
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$16,927,755
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$129,400
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,514,813

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

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