Universal Bluford Charter School FY2021 filing

IRS exemption revoked

Philadelphia, PAUnknown exempt organizationSince 2010 EIN 27-2662701Revenue $8.4M in FY2021Latest return filed May 15, 2023

On file with the IRSuniversalcompanies.orgPhiladelphia, PA

Claim this org

(tell your story, add context, and more) Claim it free, then get the verified mark for $2,500 a year, plus $10 a year for the ID check.

How does your 990 look to donors? Take the 10-Question Audit

To operate a Charter School

74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$175K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
Revoked
IRS exemption revoked
Concern: the IRS revoked its tax exemption.
IRS Auto-Revocation List
Latest return
FY2022
latest Form 990
Worth a look: the latest return is for FY2022, 4 tax years back; more than 3 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.9M a year · 22% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$175K
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: 5.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $35K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.5M
145% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 145% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.4M
-3% vs prior year
Spent
$6.8M
To programs
74%
Net assets
−$1.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2022
Revenue
$8.4M
FY2021▼ -3%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$8.7M
FY2021$8.4M
FY2022$9.4M
Expenses
$6.8M
FY2021▲ +16%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.8M
FY2021$6.8M
FY2022$8.1M
Net assets
−$1.7M
FY2021▲ +48%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$3.3M
FY2021−$1.7M
FY2022−$391K

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

990 PDF Claim
IRS revoked this organization's tax-exempt status on November 15, 2025
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2022) →

Is it real?

No. The IRS revoked its tax exemption. Latest filing on record: FY2022.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $5.0M Management & general 26% · $1.8M

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

6 people listed on the 990; $175K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$174,858Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary/ Human Resources
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Facilities Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2022FY2021FY2020
Crystal Gary-Nelson$171,902$174,858$174,858
Lisa Bellamy$123,441——
Cynthia Phifer$111,786——

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 Universal Bluford Charter School executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Operates a charter school that partners with community resources to support students and families.

Questions for Universal Bluford Charter School

Tap to ask. Universal Bluford Charter School sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Universal Bluford Charter School answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $5.0M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The educational program utilizes community resources within the universal bluford's immediate neighborhood through a variety of before, during, and after school partnerships with families, businesses, social agencies, civic groups and community organizations to enhance the academic program and to support students and their families.

$5.0Mprogram 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 · FY2020
Elevate 215FY2020$35K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$35K

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2022 · $1.8M federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Pennsylvania Department of Education$628K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Pennsylvania Department of Education$466K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Universal Institute Charter School$341K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Universal Institute Charter School$158K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through School District of Philadelphia$145K

Plus 2 smaller programs.

The auditor reported: doubt the group can keep going.

Year ending Jun 2021 · $1.0M federal money spent
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Pennsylvania Department of Education$453K
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Covid-19 Relief Funding$202K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Covid-19 Relief Funding and 1 more$112K
Coronavirus Relief FundDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.019 · Through Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency$90K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Universal Institute Charter School$44K

Plus 5 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2020 · $1.0M federal money spent
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Pennsylvania Department of Education$459K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Universal Institute Charter School$199K
Twenty-First Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through Universal Daroff Charter School$125K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through School District of Philadelphia$114K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Universal Institute Charter School$69K

Plus 4 smaller programs.

The auditor reported: doubt the group can keep going, a weakness in money controls.

Year ending Jun 2018 · $1.1M federal money spent
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through PA Department of Education$529K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through PA Dept of Ed, Pass-Through Universal Institute Charter School and 1 more$227K
Twenty-First Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through School District of Phila, Passthrough Universal Daroff Charter School$111K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through School District of Philadelphia$88K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through PA Department of Ed, Pass-Through Universal Institute Charter School$85K

Plus 2 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.3M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$43K
Money outPt IX
$6.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.0M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Owns and owesPt X
−$1.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Other incomeLn 4–11$43K
Total revenueLn 12$8.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.0M
Accounts receivableLn 4$218K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$72K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18K
Other assetsLn 15$496K
Total assetsLn 16$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5134
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$3.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$18K
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M$3.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.6M$5.5M
Net assetsLn 32−$3.3M−$1.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.3M$3.3M$955K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8−$854K−$394K−$460K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$650K$622K$29K
Payroll taxesLn 10$309K$237K$72K
Management feesLn 11a$482K$482K
Legal feesLn 11b$230K$230K
Accounting feesLn 11c$23K$23K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$415K$369K$46K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$30K$30K
Office expensesLn 13$95K$38K$58K
Information technologyLn 14$342K$290K$52K
OccupancyLn 16$27K$27K
TravelLn 17$20K$20K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$4K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$155K$79K$75K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$562K$417K$144K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.8M$5.0M$1.8M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2022 LatestFiled with the IRS May 15, 2023 $9.4M$8.1M$1.3M−$391K 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 25, 2022 $8.4M$6.8M$1.6M−$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 14, 2021 $8.7M$5.8M$2.8M−$3.3M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,362,238 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,085,572$1,058,501
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,492,938$7,257,363
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$3,017
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $83,539$43,357
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $8,662,049$8,362,238
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 $3,136,117$4,396,283
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,691,850$2,385,136
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,827,967$6,781,419
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $2,834,082$1,580,819
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $8,362,238 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,058,501
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,058,501
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,257,363$7,257,363
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $3,017$3,017
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $43,357$43,357
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,303,737 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$8,362,238
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,781,419 across 16 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,336,200 · Management $955,241$4,291,441
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms −$393,984 · Management −$460,365−$854,349
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $621,537 · Management $28,915$650,452
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $236,607 · Management $72,132$308,739
IX-11a Management feesManagement $481,580$481,580
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $229,940$229,940
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $22,705$22,705
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $368,904 · Management $46,038$414,942
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $30,333$30,333
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $37,521 · Management $57,520$95,041
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $289,888 · Management $51,925$341,813
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $27,494$27,494
IX-17 TravelManagement $20,299$20,299
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $4,480$4,480
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $79,417 · Management $75,309$154,726
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $417,300 · Management $144,483$561,783
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,997,870 · Management $1,783,549 · Fundraising $0$6,781,419
Part X · Balance sheet $3,825,315 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,608,108$3,020,988
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $303,370$218,168
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $68,539$72,126
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$17,920
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $356,881$496,113
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,336,898$3,825,315
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $857,857$968,541
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,767,975$4,564,889
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,625,832$5,533,430
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$3,288,934−$1,708,115
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$3,288,934−$1,708,115
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,336,898$3,825,315
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$1,708,115 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,362,238
XI-2 Total expenses$6,781,419
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,580,819
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$3,288,934
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$1,708,115

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 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.

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.