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Gerstell Academy INC

Tax-deductible

Cockeysville, MD501(c)(3)Since 1996EducationEIN 31-1620693Revenue $13.0M in FY2025

On file with the IRSgerstell.org10706 Beaver Dam Rd, 21030-2207 · Cockeysville, MDTax-exempt since Nov 2000School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Gerstell Academy is a diverse educational community dedicated to providing a nurturing and mentoring environment where each student's potential to become a leader, to learn, to grow morally, to be physically fit, and to compete is maximized.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
76¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$845K 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

FY2025 · 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
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $825K a year · 8% 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
76%
of spending
Looks good: 76% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$845K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 76% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $2.0M
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$9.4M
26% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 26% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$13.0M
+24% vs prior year
Spent
$10.7M
To programs
76%
Net assets
$26.1M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$13.0M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$8.9M
FY2022$11.0M
FY2023$9.6M
FY2024$10.5M
FY2025$13.0M
Expenses
$10.7M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$9.2M
FY2022$9.0M
FY2023$9.9M
FY2024$10.3M
FY2025$10.7M
Net assets
$26.1M
FY2025▲ +18%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$24.1M
FY2022$19.6M
FY2023$20.1M
FY2024$22.1M
FY2025$26.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2000.

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

Where the money goes

76 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 76% · $8.1M Management & general 23% · $2.5M Fundraising 1% · $123K

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

21 people listed on the 990; $845K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$367,500Pt VII · Sec A
Reji S Samuel
IT Director
$139,645Pt VII · Sec A
$120,165Pt VII · Sec A
Brian Abbott
Upper School Head
$114,008Pt VII · Sec A
Ben Thompson
Lower School Head
$103,569Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

John a Polasko’s $368K as President is at the 76th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
John a Polasko$367,500$400,000$168,005$154,067$146,731
Reji S Samuel$139,645$132,996$133,945$125,223$121,488
Mary R Louque$120,165$116,666$117,496$109,845$106,646
Brian Abbott$114,008$110,686$111,477$104,217—
Ben Thompson$103,569————

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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Nurturing students to maximize their potential as leaders, learners, and well-rounded individuals.

Questions for Gerstell Academy INC

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Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $8.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

All expenses incurred are in the furtherance of the school's exempt purpose of providing pre kindergarden through grade 12 education

$8.0Mprogram expense
02

Gerstell-falcon sports camp

$79Kprogram 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 · FY2024
David D Smith Family Foundation INCFY2024$1.5M
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn INCFY2024$201K
Lily Charitable Foundation INCFY2024$62K
Moose Charitable Foundation INCFY2024$62K
Kona Charitable Foundation INCFY2024$62K
Way Foundation INCFY2024$40K
Nextgen Foundation Charitable TrFY2024$35K
Total grants receivedfrom 7 funders$2.0M
See all 7 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$13.0M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.6M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.9M
Money outPt IX
$10.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.1M
Managementcol C$2.5M
Fundraisingcol D$123K
Owns and owesPt X
$26.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$35.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.5M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$152K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$7.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.9M
Other incomeLn 4–11$24K
Gains on assetsLn 7$121K
Total revenueLn 12$13.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$657K
SavingsLn 2$2.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$27.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$303K
Other assetsLn 15$88K
Total assetsLn 16$35.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$9.4M
Net assetsLn 32$26.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5122
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$591K$2.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$24.6M$27.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$339K$303K
Total assetsLn 16$30.5M$35.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.5M$9.4M
Net assetsLn 32$22.1M$26.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.5M$4.8M$1.5M$117K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$311K$238K$73K
Payroll taxesLn 10$457K$343K$108K$6K
Management feesLn 11a$12K$12K
Legal feesLn 11b$12K$12K
Accounting feesLn 11c$120K$120K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$993$993
Advertising and promotionLn 12$236K$236K
Office expensesLn 13$231K$76K$156K
Information technologyLn 14$51K$51K
OccupancyLn 16$1.5M$1.3M$258K
TravelLn 17$82K$78K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$67K$67K
InterestLn 20$119K$119K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$148K$148K
InsuranceLn 23$139K$127K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$720K$640K$80K
All other expensesLn 24e$18K$18K
Total functional expensesLn 25$10.7M$8.1M$2.5M$123K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $13.0M$10.7M$2.3M$26.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $10.5M$10.3M$241K$22.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $9.6M$9.9M−$213K$20.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $11.0M$9.0M$2.1M$19.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.9M$9.2M−$234K$24.1M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $13,010,215 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,771,020$3,488,970
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $7,466,220$7,607,150
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,199,297$1,889,880
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $56,542$24,215
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,493,079$13,010,215
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 $6,835,575$7,242,819
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,416,922$3,487,188
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,252,497$10,730,007
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $240,582$2,280,208
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $13,010,215 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $4,999 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$152,251
VIII-1d Related organizations$1,200,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,136,719
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,488,970
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $7,479,151 · Unrelated business $127,999$7,607,150
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,769,189$1,769,189
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $2,000 · Excluded from tax $118,691$120,691
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $14,073$14,073
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $5,143$5,143
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $7,491,293 · Unrelated business $127,999 · Excluded from tax $1,901,953$13,010,215
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $10,730,007 across 18 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,829,086 · Management $1,528,370 · Fundraising $116,928$6,474,384
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $237,820 · Management $73,489$311,309
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $343,109 · Management $107,911 · Fundraising $6,106$457,126
IX-11a Management feesManagement $11,894$11,894
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $12,476$12,476
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $119,525$119,525
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $993$993
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $235,598$235,598
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $75,655 · Management $155,708$231,363
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $51,313$51,313
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,272,025 · Management $258,160$1,530,185
IX-17 TravelPrograms $78,363 · Management $4,109$82,472
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $67,410$67,410
IX-20 InterestManagement $119,275$119,275
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $147,865$147,865
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $127,201 · Management $11,904$139,105
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $639,640 · Management $80,175$719,815
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $17,899$17,899
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,122,984 · Management $2,483,989 · Fundraising $123,034$10,730,007
Part X · Balance sheet $35,418,574 assets, 17 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $28,944; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $411,160$657,266
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $179,793$2,020,123
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,938,152$4,863,909
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $17,584$16,669
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $338,764$302,645
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $2,049,675$2,267,018
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $22,506,945$25,173,547
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $70,689$88,453
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $30,541,706$35,418,574
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $150,756$202,465
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $5,895,414$5,907,695
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $325,922$335,853
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,458,990$9,352,007
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $21,418,811$25,140,468
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $663,905$926,099
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $22,082,716$26,066,567
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $30,541,706$35,418,574
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $26,066,567 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$13,010,215
XI-2 Total expenses$10,730,007
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,280,208
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$22,082,716
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,703,645
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$2
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$26,066,567

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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