Back 2 School America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to create and support educational opportunities that enrich the lives of illinois children.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$100K 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

FY2023 · 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
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $48K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$100K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $20K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$44K
17% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 17% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$994K
-14% vs prior year
Spent
$970K
To programs
78%
Net assets
$212K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$994K
FY2023▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$688K
FY2021$605K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$994K
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$679K
Expenses
$970K
FY2023▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$579K
FY2021$672K
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$970K
FY2024$877K
FY2025$736K
Net assets
$212K
FY2023▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$158K
FY2021$91K
FY2022$188K
FY2023$212K
FY2024$391K
FY2025$335K

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 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 Aug 2010.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $758K Management & general 13% · $123K Fundraising 9% · $89K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

13 people listed on the 990; $100K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$100,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Matthew Kurtzman’s $100K as C.e.o. is at the 87th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1993 $100K–1M youth development 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 · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Matthew Kurtzman$100,000$93,340$92,453$89,760

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 Back 2 School America executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Creates and supports educational opportunities to enrich Illinois children's lives.

Questions for Back 2 School America

Tap to ask. Back 2 School America sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Back 2 School America answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $758K · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Back 2 school america distributes school supply kits.

$754Kprogram expense
02

Back 2 school america promotes the writing of notes of inspiration as part of its programming to encourage and motivate children.

$4Kprogram expense
03

Back 2 school america provides scholarships to eligible students.

Pt IX · col B

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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$20K
Grants paid · 6 grants · $1.8M · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$243,016
Unitemized GrantFY2024$357,065
Unitemized GrantFY2023$503,238
Unitemized GrantFY2022$608,728
Unitemized GrantFY2021$10,000
Unitemized GrantFY2020$40,000

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$994K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$946K
Other incomeLn 4–11$41K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$970K
Ln 25
Programscol B$758K
Managementcol C$123K
Fundraisingcol D$89K
Owns and owesPt X
$212K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$219K
Total assetsLn 16$256K
LiabilitiesLn 26$44K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$946K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Other incomeLn 4–11$41K
Total revenueLn 12$994K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$50K
SavingsLn 2$169K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$219K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$256K
LiabilitiesLn 26$44K
Net assetsLn 32$212K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$214K$219K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$235K$256K
LiabilitiesLn 26$47K$44K
Net assetsLn 32$188K$212K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$503K$503K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$100K$75K$15K$10K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$148K$67K$62K$20K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$24K$15K$7K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$21K$12K$7K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$34K$34K$10
Office expensesLn 13$8K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$4K$4K
TravelLn 17$3K$1K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$568$568
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$74K$44K$30K
All other expensesLn 24e$32K$8K$2K$22K
Total functional expensesLn 25$970K$758K$123K$89K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $679K$736K−$57K$335K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.1M$877K$180K$391K 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $994K$970K$24K$212K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$1.1M$97K$188K 990 PDF
FY2021 $605K$672K−$67K$91K 990 PDF
FY2020 $688K$579K$109K$158K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $994,078 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,121,140$946,352
I-9 Program service revenue$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,370$6,730
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $29,570$40,996
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,152,080$994,078
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $608,728$503,238
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $271,318$293,809
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $175,461$173,185
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,055,507$970,232
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $96,573$23,846
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $994,078 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$503,911
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$442,441
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$946,352
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $6,730$6,730
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$29,420
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $11,576$11,576
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $18,306$994,078
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $970,232 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $503,238$503,238
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $75,000 · Management $15,000 · Fundraising $10,000$100,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $66,579 · Management $61,999 · Fundraising $19,806$148,384
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $14,529 · Management $6,780 · Fundraising $2,906$24,215
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $12,090 · Management $6,575 · Fundraising $2,545$21,210
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $15,512$15,512
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $33,518 · Management $10$33,528
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $8,049$8,049
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $4,287$4,287
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,479 · Fundraising $1,479$2,958
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $568$568
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $2,513$2,513
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $43,761 · Fundraising $30,485$74,246
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,788 · Management $2,041 · Fundraising $21,695$31,524
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $757,982 · Management $123,334 · Fundraising $88,916$970,232
Part X · Balance sheet $255,690 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $36,584$49,609
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $177,574$169,304
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $9,934$19,359
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $6,299$9,105
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $4,821$5,467
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, net$2,846
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $235,212$255,690
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $7,289$8,866
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $39,945$35,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $47,234$43,866
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $187,978$211,824
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $187,978$211,824
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $235,212$255,690
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $211,824 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$994,078
XI-2 Total expenses$970,232
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$23,846
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$187,978
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$211,824

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.