A C E Academy FY2024 filing

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

Ace Academy will equip students from all backgrounds to succeed in the college and career of their choice by driving academic excellence, developing a strong mindset, and instilling an entrepreneurial mindset.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
71¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$136K 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

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
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 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $65K a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
71%
of spending
Fine: 71% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$136K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $15K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$6.5M
91% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 91% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$5.6M
+0.5% vs prior year
Spent
$5.8M
To programs
71%
Net assets
$656K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.6M
FY2024▲ +0.5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.2M
FY2021$4.6M
FY2022$5.3M
FY2023$5.6M
FY2024$5.6M
FY2025$6.5M
Expenses
$5.8M
FY2024▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.0M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$5.5M
FY2023$5.6M
FY2024$5.8M
FY2025$7.1M
Net assets
$656K
FY2024▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$612K
FY2021$975K
FY2022$776K
FY2023$780K
FY2024$656K
FY2025$935K

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Exemption reinstated (2015-12-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 2017.

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

Where the money goes

71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 71% · $4.1M Management & general 29% · $1.6M

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

7 people listed on the 990; $136K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$136,127Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Laila Minott’s $147K as Executive Director is at the 62nd 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Laila Minott$146,827$136,127$133,559$126,924$126,924$98,956
Shannon Martin$107,701—————

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 A C E Academy 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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Equips students for college and careers through academic excellence, strong mindset, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Questions for A C E Academy

Tap to ask. A C E Academy sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. A C E Academy answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $4.1M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

A.C.E. Academy is a public, tuition-free k-8 charter school dedicated to preparing students for success in high school and beyond.

$4.1Mprogram 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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$15K

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $1.0M federal money spent
Twenty-First Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$418K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$240K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$175K
Special Education Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$135K
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (formerly Improving Teacher Quality State Grants)Department of Education · ALN 84.367 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$20K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $756K federal money spent
Child Nutrition ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$281K
21st Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$203K
Esser II - Supplemental K-12 Emergency FundsDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$104K
Idea Title Vi-B HandicappedDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$70K
Esea Title 1 - Lea Basic EducationDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$68K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $899K federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$380K
Twenty-First Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$177K
Public Health Emergency PreparednessDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.069 · Direct$114K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$104K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$71K

Plus 4 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $938K federal money spent
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$398K
Twenty-First Century Community Learning CentersDepartment of Education · ALN 84.287 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$172K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$166K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$84K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through N.c. Department of Public Instruction$61K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$57K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$26K
Money outPt IX
$5.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.1M
Managementcol C$1.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$656K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$7.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$5.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$5.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$26K
Investment incomeLn 3$57K
Other incomeLn 4–11$1K
Total revenueLn 12$5.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.7M
SavingsLn 2$95K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.1M
Other assetsLn 15$4K
Total assetsLn 16$7.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.5M
Net assetsLn 32$656K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5100
VolunteersI 66
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5.4M$5.1M
Total assetsLn 16$7.5M$7.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.7M$6.5M
Net assetsLn 32$780K$656K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$136K$97K$39K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.8M$2.0M$806K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$17K$12K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$301K$215K$86K
Payroll taxesLn 10$316K$226K$90K
Legal feesLn 11b$13K$9K$4K
Accounting feesLn 11c$106K$76K$30K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$308K$220K$88K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$47K$33K$13K
Office expensesLn 13$67K$48K$19K
Information technologyLn 14$55K$39K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$59K$42K$17K
TravelLn 17$39K$28K$11K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$41K$29K$12K
InterestLn 20$441K$315K$126K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$232K$165K$66K
InsuranceLn 23$48K$35K$14K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$632K$452K$181K
All other expensesLn 24e$88K$63K$25K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.8M$4.1M$1.6M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 11, 2026 $6.5M$7.1M−$584K$935K 990 PDF
FY2024 ViewingFiled with the IRS May 7, 2025 $5.6M$5.8M−$124K$656K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jul 18, 2024 $5.6M$5.6M$5K$780K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Apr 6, 2023 $5.3M$5.5M−$199K$776K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 16, 2022 $4.6M$4.3M$363K$975K 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS May 17, 2021 $4.2M$4.0M$150K$612K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,645,946 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,383,863$5,561,035
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $151,236$26,398
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $31,922$57,015
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $49,739$1,498
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,616,760$5,645,946
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 $3,355,201$3,592,787
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,256,190$2,177,318
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,611,391$5,770,105
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,369−$124,159
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $5,645,946 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$5,558,925
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,110
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$5,561,035
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $26,398$26,398
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $57,015$57,015
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $1,498$1,498
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $27,896 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $57,015$5,645,946
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,770,105 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $97,250 · Management $38,877$136,127
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,015,993 · Management $805,928$2,821,921
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,253 · Management $4,898$17,151
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $215,236 · Management $86,044$301,280
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $225,972 · Management $90,336$316,308
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $9,377 · Management $3,748$13,125
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $76,022 · Management $30,391$106,413
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $219,996 · Management $87,947$307,943
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $33,399 · Management $13,352$46,751
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $47,726 · Management $19,079$66,805
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $39,424 · Management $15,761$55,185
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $42,042 · Management $16,807$58,849
IX-17 TravelPrograms $27,985 · Management $11,187$39,172
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $29,436 · Management $11,768$41,204
IX-20 InterestPrograms $315,276 · Management $126,037$441,313
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $165,467 · Management $66,148$231,615
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $34,649 · Management $13,851$48,500
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $451,583 · Management $180,529$632,112
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $63,103 · Management $25,228$88,331
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,122,189 · Management $1,647,916 · Fundraising $0$5,770,105
Part X · Balance sheet $7,142,652 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,934,633$1,725,522
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $60,407$95,372
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $142,774$144,636
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$45,612
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,359,425$5,127,810
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $3,700$3,700
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $7,500,939$7,142,652
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $121,176$27,048
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,600,000$6,460,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,721,176$6,487,048
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $779,763$655,604
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $779,763$655,604
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $7,500,939$7,142,652
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $655,604 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,645,946
XI-2 Total expenses$5,770,105
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$124,159
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$779,763
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$655,604

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 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.