To expand quality education options for low-income and working-class families of Illinois.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.2M 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

FY2020 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $2.2M a year · 5% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.2M
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $46K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$891K
5% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 5% of assets; 50% or less.
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
$45.9M
Spent
$40.9M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$17.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$45.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$45.9M
FY2021$51.4M
FY2022$54.3M
FY2023$56.1M
FY2024$276K
Expenses
$40.9M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$40.9M
FY2021$42.2M
FY2022$53.7M
FY2023$79.7M
FY2024$2.6M
Net assets
$17.5M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$17.5M
FY2021$26.6M
FY2022$27.2M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$1.0M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2010.

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

Where the money goes

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $39.8M Management & general 2% · $874K Fundraising 1% · $264K

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

17 people listed on the 990; $1.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
SR Dir of Finance and Ops
$214,492Pt VII · Sec A
President (as of 08/2020)
$208,551Pt VII · Sec A
President (thru 08/2020)
$176,542Pt VII · Sec A
Political Strategy Director
$159,855Pt VII · Sec A
Gov't Affairs Dir
$149,431Pt VII · Sec A
Operations Director
$133,881Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Finance and Compliance
$125,903Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Brandan Allen’s $223K as CFO is at the 99th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Anthony Holter$114,833$301,230$238,979$239,203$208,551
Juan Rangel—$239,608$162,756$149,959$159,855
Brandan Allen$222,872$198,345$161,146$151,591$125,903
Brian Brookover———$118,292$214,492
Myles Mendoza————$176,542
Maris Tallentire——$150,289——
Christopher Davis—$149,647$120,048——
Alissa Mccurley-Vogel————$149,431

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 Empower Illinois 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

Expands quality education options for low-income Illinois families.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $39.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The organization advocates for tax credit scholarships, tax credits for teachers' out of pocket expenses on supplies and other policy to help students attend qualified non-public schools throughout illinois.

$39.8Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$46K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 5 grants · $197.4M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$255,801
Unitemized GrantFY2023$74,967,678
Unitemized GrantFY2022$48,734,159
Unitemized GrantFY2021$37,708,102
Unitemized GrantFY2020$35,716,061

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$45.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$98K
Investment incomeLn 3$30K
Money outPt IX
$40.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$39.8M
Managementcol C$874K
Fundraisingcol D$264K
Owns and owesPt X
$17.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.5M
Total assetsLn 16$18.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$891K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$299K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$8.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$30K
Other incomeLn 4–11$98K
Total revenueLn 12$45.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.7M
SavingsLn 2$13.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$345K
Other assetsLn 15$348K
Total assetsLn 16$18.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$891K
Net assetsLn 32$17.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 531
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$11.1M$16.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$492K$345K
Total assetsLn 16$13.9M$18.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.5M$891K
Net assetsLn 32$12.4M$17.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$35.7M$35.7M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$426K$336K$58K$32K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.0M$1.5M$298K$164K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$14K$14K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$175K$127K$32K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$212K$212K
Legal feesLn 11b$64K$52K$12K
Accounting feesLn 11c$95K$95K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$215K$215K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$50K$50K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$839K$715K$124K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$123K$38K$85K$248
Information technologyLn 14$162K$119K$42K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$138K$136K$2K
TravelLn 17$29K$23K$5K$434
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$94K$89K$4K$179
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$484K$474K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$50K$50K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$59K$432$58K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$40.9M$39.8M$874K$264K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $276K$2.6M−$2.3M$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $56.1M$79.7M−$23.6M$3.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $54.3M$53.7M$526K$27.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $51.4M$42.2M$9.1M$26.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $45.9M$40.9M$5.0M$17.5M 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 M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $45,895,922 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $45,745,211$45,767,572
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $409,579$30,096
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $128,659$98,254
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $46,283,449$45,895,922
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $38,906,911$35,716,061
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,102,640$2,778,177
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $80,750$50,100
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,947,207$2,363,099
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $44,037,508$40,907,437
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,245,941$4,988,485
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $45,895,922 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$299,180
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$45,468,392
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$8,108,189
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$45,767,572
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $30,096$30,096
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $98,254$98,254
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $128,350$45,895,922
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $40,907,437 across 20 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $35,716,061$35,716,061
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $336,014 · Management $58,412 · Fundraising $32,043$426,469
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,489,502 · Management $298,172 · Fundraising $163,566$1,951,240
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $14,181$14,181
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $127,397 · Management $31,585 · Fundraising $15,778$174,760
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $211,527$211,527
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $52,068 · Management $11,604$63,672
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $95,031$95,031
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $215,000$215,000
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $50,100$50,100
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $714,778 · Management $124,246$839,024
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,802$11,802
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $37,853 · Management $84,642 · Fundraising $248$122,743
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $119,338 · Management $41,539 · Fundraising $1,436$162,313
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $136,455 · Management $2,026$138,481
IX-17 TravelPrograms $23,068 · Management $5,078 · Fundraising $434$28,580
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $89,402 · Management $3,974 · Fundraising $179$93,555
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $474,438 · Management $9,735$484,173
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $50,195$50,195
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $432 · Management $58,098 · Fundraising $0$58,530
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $39,769,316 · Management $874,337 · Fundraising $263,784$40,907,437
Part X · Balance sheet $18,412,741 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,049,377$2,662,664
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,066,495$13,862,727
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,954,290$958,822
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $200,976$139,636
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $22,322$96,013
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $492,406$344,581
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $123,087$348,298
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,908,953$18,412,741
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $228,909$141,498
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $1,253,656$711,835
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$37,554
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,482,565$890,887
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,499,567$3,402,974
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $9,926,821$14,118,880
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $12,426,388$17,521,854
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,908,953$18,412,741
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $17,521,854 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$45,895,922
XI-2 Total expenses$40,907,437
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$4,988,485
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$12,426,388
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$106,981
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$17,521,854

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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