The mission of University Academy Foundation is to facilitate educational programs and opportunities that support college readiness, college completion and career success for University Academy students and alumni. University Academy is a college-preparatory k-12 charter public school in kansas city, missouri. The school's mission is to prepare students to succeed in an institution of higher education and to be leaders in society.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 90 volunteers and 7 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $276K a year · 22% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 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
$99K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
20 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 19.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $816K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$16K
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% 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
$2.3M
+86% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$2.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +86%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$928K
FY2021$933K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.2M
FY2025$2.3M
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$883K
FY2021$833K
FY2022$964K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.2M
Net assets
$2.2M
FY2025▲ +97%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$602K
FY2021$703K
FY2022$904K
FY2023$1.0M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$2.2M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 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 Jun 2010.

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% · $980K Management & general 7% · $83K Fundraising 9% · $111K

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

7 people listed on the 990; $99K 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
Executive Director
$99,000Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member - as of 4/25
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Sonja Shaffer’s $99K as Executive Director is at the 30th 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sonja Shaffer$99,000$99,000$98,000$38,077——
Tony Kline———$23,469$40,985$35,585
David Rucker—————$20,046

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 University Academy Foundation 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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Supports educational programs and special opportunities for University Academy students and alumni.

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $980K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

K-12 Special Programs and Opportunities

Provides funding for various supplemental programs and educational opportunities for ua students. Provides scholarships for various domestic and international summer programs for middle school and high school students. Assists high school juniors and seniors with career exploration and college applications.

$622Kprogram expense
02

Alumni Program

Support approximately 806 university academy alumni in pursuit of their academic and career goals. Operates programs which provide academic, personal and financial support and scholarship awards to ua alumni in college based on college attendance and grades.

$358Kprogram 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 8 funders →
Grants paid · 50 grants · $3.1M · 2019–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$144,991
Unitemized GrantFY2024$125,122
Unitemized GrantFY2024$116,981
University AcademyMO · FY2024$89,531
Unitemized GrantFY2024$75,765
Unitemized GrantFY2024$58,468
Unitemized GrantFY2024$25,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$10,422
Unitemized GrantFY2023$118,644
University AcademyMO · FY2023$106,125
Unitemized GrantFY2023$100,333
Unitemized GrantFY2023$89,280
Unitemized GrantFY2023$40,773
Unitemized GrantFY2023$28,256
Unitemized GrantFY2022$112,528
Unitemized GrantFY2022$108,950
See all 50 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$27K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$980K
Managementcol C$83K
Fundraisingcol D$111K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.9M
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$1.0M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$541K
Investment incomeLn 3$27K
Total revenueLn 12$2.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$909K
SavingsLn 2$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$282K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$29K
Other assetsLn 15$3K
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$16K
Net assetsLn 32$2.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 690
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$1.9M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$282K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$32K$29K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M$2.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$19K$16K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M$2.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$102K$102K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$567K$567K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$112K$84K$11K$17K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$224K$144K$25K$56K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$4K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2K$2K$291$83
Payroll taxesLn 10$25K$17K$3K$6K
Legal feesLn 11b$298$298
Accounting feesLn 11c$8K$8K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$7K$7K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$4K$4K$642
Information technologyLn 14$8K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$36K$21K$6K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$3K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$55K$43K$1K$11K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$309$4K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$980K$83K$111K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.3M$1.2M$1.1M$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.2M$1.1M$95K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.2M$1.0M$135K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$964K$201K$904K 990 PDF
FY2021 $933K$833K$100K$703K 990 PDF
FY2020 $928K$883K$45K$602K 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 M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,253,246 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,281,204$2,318,433
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $69$27,424
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$71,646−$92,611
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,209,627$2,253,246
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $604,556$668,770
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $378,674$367,356
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $3,500$7,432
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $128,273$130,873
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,115,003$1,174,431
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $94,624$1,078,815
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,253,246 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$540,801
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,777,632
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$1,018,673
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,318,433
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $27,424$27,424
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$92,611−$92,611
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$65,187$2,253,246
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,174,431 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $101,531$101,531
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $567,239$567,239
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $83,965 · Management $11,195 · Fundraising $16,793$111,953
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $144,224 · Management $24,511 · Fundraising $55,643$224,378
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $4,104$4,104
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,608 · Management $291 · Fundraising $83$1,982
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $16,853 · Management $2,558 · Fundraising $5,528$24,939
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $298$298
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $7,500$7,500
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $7,432$7,432
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $2,036$2,036
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $3,537 · Fundraising $642$4,179
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $8,153$8,153
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,420 · Management $6,091 · Fundraising $8,702$36,213
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $3,056$3,056
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $4,644$4,644
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $43,049 · Management $1,014 · Fundraising $10,559$54,622
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $309 · Management $4,330 · Fundraising $5,533$10,172
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $980,198 · Management $83,318 · Fundraising $110,915$1,174,431
Part X · Balance sheet $2,245,783 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,103,466$909,097
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,209$1,023,782
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $31,833$28,777
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$281,621
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,506$2,506
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,153,014$2,245,783
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $18,890$15,745
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $18,890$15,745
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $934,271$1,330,045
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $199,853$899,993
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,134,124$2,230,038
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,153,014$2,245,783
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,230,038 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,253,246
XI-2 Total expenses$1,174,431
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,078,815
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,134,124
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$17,099
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,230,038

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

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