To equip and empower first-generation college students in the Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 78 volunteers and 175 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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 surplus $379K a year · 10% 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
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$251K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $13K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$70K
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.8M
+75% vs prior year
Spent
$4.1M
To programs
77%
Net assets
$9.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$4.8M
FY2024▲ +75%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$4.9M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$2.7M
FY2024$4.8M
Expenses
$4.1M
FY2024▲ +12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.3M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$4.1M
Net assets
$9.4M
FY2024▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$7.0M
FY2021$9.0M
FY2022$9.0M
FY2023$8.0M
FY2024$9.4M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 2010.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $3.2M Management & general 13% · $548K Fundraising 10% · $414K

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

22 people listed on the 990; $251K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$149,858Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Program Officer
$100,700Pt VII · Sec A
Board Vice Chair (january 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Vice Chair (as of June 1, 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary (january 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary (as of June 1, 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer (entirety of 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Price’s $150K as Executive Director is at the 64th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michelle Price$149,858$160,000$49,158——
Amy Salo—$78,158$118,392$86,146$81,900
Alexandra Zagbayou———$113,831$94,208
Elena Maina$100,700————
Robin Smith—$29,055———

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 Student U 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

Empowering Durham's first-generation students, families, and educators to become city leaders.

Questions for Student U

Tap to ask. Student U sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Student U answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.4M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Middle School Program

Student u's middle school program serves students and their families in durham public schools through a five-week summer academy and daily after-school programs during the school year. Students receive instruction in english, math, science, and global connect, as well as elective classes.

$1.2Mprogram expense
02

High School Program

Student u's high school program serves students and their families in durham public schools through a five-week summer academy, a twice-a-week tutoring program during the school year, an in-school advocate, and an internship program for rising 11TH and 12TH graders.

$884Kprogram expense
03

W.g. Pearson Center Partnerships Program

In 2017, the W.G. Pearson center was acquired and renovated by an affiliate of the self-help ventures fund. Student u became the master tenant of the space in 2018 and has remained committed to keeping the center a youth-centered space that houses activities and programs designed to enrich the lives and outcomes of young people and the…

$407Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$13K
Grants paid · 14 grants · $63K · 2021–2022
Unitemized GrantFY2022$7,738
Unitemized GrantFY2022$5,370
Unitemized GrantFY2022$4,500
Unitemized GrantFY2022$3,342
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,836
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,395
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,395
Unitemized GrantFY2021$18,006
Unitemized GrantFY2021$8,507
Unitemized GrantFY2021$5,090
Unitemized GrantFY2021$3,177
Unitemized GrantFY2021$1,431
Unitemized GrantFY2021$610
Unitemized GrantFY2021$553

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$272K
Other incomeLn 4–11$182K
Money outPt IX
$4.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.2M
Managementcol C$548K
Fundraisingcol D$414K
Owns and owesPt X
$9.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$965K
Total assetsLn 16$9.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$41K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$272K
Investment incomeLn 3$86K
Other incomeLn 4–11$182K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$221
Total revenueLn 12$4.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$666K
SavingsLn 2$300K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$965K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$7.0M
Other assetsLn 15$657K
Total assetsLn 16$9.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$70K
Net assetsLn 32$9.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5175
VolunteersI 678
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$965K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$213K$7.0M
Total assetsLn 16$8.8M$9.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$757K$70K
Net assetsLn 32$8.0M$9.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$3K$3K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$4K$4K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$150K$114K$19K$17K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.2M$1.8M$224K$229K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$35K$26K$5K$4K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$232K$143K$55K$33K
Payroll taxesLn 10$190K$150K$20K$21K
Legal feesLn 11b$32K$26K$3K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$12K$8K$1K$2K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$21K$21K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$45K$36K$4K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$56K$16K$35K$4K
Information technologyLn 14$100K$61K$28K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$560K$428K$75K$57K
TravelLn 17$16K$16K$126
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$46K$45K$362
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$72K$72K$122
InsuranceLn 23$42K$32K$6K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$281K$281K
All other expensesLn 24e$1K$1K$208
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.1M$3.2M$548K$414K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $4.8M$4.1M$632K$9.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.7M$3.7M−$971K$8.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.1M$3.1M−$48K$9.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.9M$2.9M$2.0M$9.0M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.3M$316K$7.0M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,770,678 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,504,456$4,230,438
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $177,927$271,637
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,993$86,328
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$182,275
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,728,376$4,770,678
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$6,600
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,557,232$2,847,628
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$20,695
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,142,001$1,263,258
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,699,233$4,138,181
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$970,857$632,497
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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 $4,770,678 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$1,416,148
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,814,290
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$41,330
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,230,438
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $271,637$271,637
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $86,549$86,549
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$221−$221
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $182,275$182,275
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $453,912 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $86,328$4,770,678
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,138,181 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $3,000$3,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $3,600$3,600
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $113,967 · Management $19,182 · Fundraising $16,709$149,858
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,787,503 · Management $224,060 · Fundraising $229,332$2,240,895
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $26,434 · Management $4,522 · Fundraising $3,826$34,782
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $143,149 · Management $55,402 · Fundraising $33,341$231,892
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $149,651 · Management $19,501 · Fundraising $21,049$190,201
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $25,518 · Management $2,513 · Fundraising $4,262$32,293
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $8,323 · Management $1,255 · Fundraising $2,336$11,914
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $20,695$20,695
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $35,625 · Management $3,509 · Fundraising $5,949$45,083
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $16,326 · Management $35,276 · Fundraising $4,165$55,767
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $60,925 · Management $28,103 · Fundraising $10,839$99,867
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $427,731 · Management $75,413 · Fundraising $56,782$559,926
IX-17 TravelPrograms $15,767 · Management $126$15,893
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $45,246 · Management $362$45,608
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $72,165 · Fundraising $122$72,287
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $31,745 · Management $6,310 · Fundraising $4,315$42,370
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $280,760$280,760
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $1,282 · Management $208$1,490
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,176,552 · Management $547,907 · Fundraising $413,722$4,138,181
Part X · Balance sheet $9,510,216 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,984,743$665,665
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$299,618
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $400,000$857,500
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $10,691$10,691
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $29,630$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $213,310$7,009,070
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $12,013$10,414
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $657,258$657,258
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $8,770,935$9,510,216
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $9,746$41,307
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $746,934$28,978
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $756,680$70,285
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,379,281$7,804,957
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,634,974$1,634,974
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $8,014,255$9,439,931
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $8,770,935$9,510,216
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $9,439,931 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,770,678
XI-2 Total expenses$4,138,181
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$632,497
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$8,014,255
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$793,179
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$9,439,931

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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