Uncommon Schools INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

New York, NY501(c)(3)Since 1996EducationEIN 31-1488698Revenue $96.0M in FY2021

On file with the IRSuncommonschools.org100 Church Street 9th Floor, 10007-2650 · New York, NYTax-exempt since Apr 1997Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.7M paid to officers and key staff.
Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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 $7.6M a year · 9% 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
$2.7M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $62K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$211.9M
72% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 72% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 12 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
$96.0M
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$68.7M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$81.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$96.0M
FY2021▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$76.7M
FY2021$96.0M
FY2022$84.6M
FY2023$79.1M
FY2024$90.3M
FY2025$88.8M
Expenses
$68.7M
FY2021▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$62.4M
FY2021$68.7M
FY2022$86.2M
FY2023$80.1M
FY2024$84.5M
FY2025$88.2M
Net assets
$81.1M
FY2021▲ +43%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$56.6M
FY2021$81.1M
FY2022$79.6M
FY2023$78.3M
FY2024$89.6M
FY2025$89.5M

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

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Apr 1997.

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% · $53.8M Management & general 19% · $12.7M Fundraising 3% · $2.2M

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

23 people listed on the 990; $2.7M 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
Director/CEO
$344,977Pt VII · Sec A
President
$344,977Pt VII · Sec A
Coo- North Star Academy
$290,797Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Schools Officer, Hs
$278,520Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$266,395Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$257,573Pt VII · Sec A
Chief External Affairs Officer
$245,395Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Schools Officer, K-8
$225,432Pt VII · Sec A

Julie Jackson’s $757K as Co-CEO/ Ex-Officio is at the 97th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Julie Jackson$756,565$666,787$547,703$402,778$344,977$318,171
Brett Peiser$687,895$664,917$497,653$354,168$344,977$346,451
Paul Bambrick$347,472—————
Juliana Worrell$345,140$317,540$281,415$242,984$225,432$214,399
Susan Pollock$338,697$327,976$314,739———
John Powell$325,418$200,859————
Laura Lee McGovern$285,255$280,211$323,959$273,389$266,395$261,059
Paul Bambrick Santoyo—$319,056$301,135$288,629$278,520$274,553

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.

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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

Operates high-performing urban public charter schools and provides professional development to prepare low-income students for college graduation.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $53.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Grants to charter public schools and expenses incurred in supporting charter public schools. Please refer to form 990, part iii, line 1, for the organization's mission.

$53.8Mprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$62K
Grants paid · 59 grants · $66.2M · 2019–2024
North Star Academy Foundation INCNY · FY2024$1,991,080
Camden Prep Foundation INCNY · FY2024$1,830,305
North Star Academy Charter SchoolFY2024$1,392,626
Roxbury Preparatory Charter SchoolFY2024$467,156
Camden Prep INCNY · FY2024$332,957
Rochester Prep Foundation INCNY · FY2024$308,912
Roxbury Prep Foundation INCNY · FY2024$11,458
North Star Academy Foundation INCNY · FY2023$1,925,537
North Star Academy Charter SchoolFY2023$1,532,546
Camden Prep Foundation INCNY · FY2023$945,313
Camden Prep INCNY · FY2023$592,276
Roxbury Preparatory Charter SchoolFY2023$538,243
North Star Academy Charter SchoolFY2022$2,021,241
North Star Academy Foundation INCNY · FY2022$1,226,000
See all 59 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$96.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$55.9M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$40.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$211K
Money outPt IX
$68.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$53.8M
Managementcol C$12.7M
Fundraisingcol D$2.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$81.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$51.4M
Total assetsLn 16$293.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$211.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
23
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$40.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$14.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$55.9M
Investment incomeLn 3$211K
Total revenueLn 12$96.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$8.4M
SavingsLn 2$43.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$51.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$153.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$10.7M
Other assetsLn 15$52.2M
Total assetsLn 16$293.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$211.9M
Net assetsLn 32$81.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5451
VolunteersI 613
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$32.7M$51.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$155.0M$153.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.7M$10.7M
Total assetsLn 16$245.1M$293.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$188.4M$211.9M
Net assetsLn 32$56.6M$81.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$12.3M$12.3M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$18K$18K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.6M$1.4M$148K$42K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$25.6M$15.2M$9.2M$1.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$571K$343K$201K$28K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.4M$1.4M$843K$116K
Payroll taxesLn 10$2.0M$1.2M$679K$95K
Legal feesLn 11b$352K$292K$46K$14K
Accounting feesLn 11c$125K$125K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$149K$149K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$105K$85K$14K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$1.8M$1.5M$221K$77K
OccupancyLn 16$3.1M$2.9M$213K$74K
InterestLn 20$10.6M$10.6M
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$830K$769K$51K$10K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7.1M$5.6M$1.0M$452K
Total functional expensesLn 25$68.7M$53.8M$12.7M$2.2M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $88.8M$88.2M$598K$89.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $90.3M$84.5M$5.8M$89.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $79.1M$80.1M−$962K$78.3M 990 PDF
FY2022 $84.6M$86.2M−$1.6M$79.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $96.0M$68.7M$27.4M$81.1M 990 PDF
FY2020 $76.7M$62.4M$14.3M$56.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $96,049,634 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $24,880,248$39,967,199
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $51,262,897$55,871,827
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $454,303$210,608
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $104,083$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $76,701,531$96,049,634
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $8,489,125$12,303,653
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $30,651,933$32,134,419
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $23,301,292$24,215,383
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $62,442,350$68,653,455
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $14,259,181$27,396,179
Part VI · Governance 12 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members12
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 $96,049,634 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1d Related organizations$131,067
VIII-1e Government grants$14,400,857
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$25,435,275
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$39,967,199
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $55,871,827$55,871,827
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $210,608$210,608
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $55,871,827 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $210,608$96,049,634
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $68,653,455 across 16 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $12,285,653$12,285,653
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $18,000$18,000
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,406,718 · Management $147,720 · Fundraising $42,206$1,596,644
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $15,171,589 · Management $9,170,869 · Fundraising $1,258,881$25,601,339
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $342,678 · Management $200,862 · Fundraising $27,794$571,334
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,428,784 · Management $842,993 · Fundraising $116,093$2,387,870
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,203,088 · Management $679,406 · Fundraising $94,738$1,977,232
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $292,434 · Management $45,803 · Fundraising $14,093$352,330
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $125,310$125,310
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $148,554$148,554
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $84,905 · Management $13,657 · Fundraising $6,488$105,050
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,531,902 · Management $221,369 · Fundraising $76,627$1,829,898
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,859,243 · Management $212,565 · Fundraising $73,581$3,145,389
IX-20 InterestPrograms $10,595,127$10,595,127
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $768,916 · Management $50,589 · Fundraising $10,118$829,623
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $5,617,851 · Management $1,013,834 · Fundraising $452,417$7,084,102
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $53,755,442 · Management $12,724,977 · Fundraising $2,173,036$68,653,455
Part X · Balance sheet $293,022,793 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,884,599$8,420,383
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $27,775,385$42,965,040
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,851,600$12,988,432
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $11,322,784$11,503,489
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $304,865$829,347
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,723,492$10,659,576
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $154,964,181$153,462,532
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $39,247,086$52,193,994
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $245,073,992$293,022,793
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,880,489$5,234,408
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $1,209,892$3,183,939
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $15,717,775$7,350,000
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $26,655,517$56,764,380
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $188,445,743$211,911,474
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $42,072,528$64,297,226
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $14,555,721$16,814,093
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $56,628,249$81,111,319
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $245,073,992$293,022,793
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $81,111,319 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$96,049,634
XI-2 Total expenses$68,653,455
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$27,396,179
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$56,628,249
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2,913,109
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$81,111,319

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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