Environmental Charter Schools FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Gardena, CA501(c)(3)Since 2001EducationEIN 33-0920934Revenue $19.3M in FY2021

On file with the IRSecsonline.org812 W 165th Pl, 90247-5105 · Gardena, CATax-exempt since Mar 2001School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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To reimagine public education in low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$838K 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

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
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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $859K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$838K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $104K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4.2M
27% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 27% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$19.3M
+10% vs prior year
Spent
$17.3M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$11.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$19.3M
FY2021▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.6M
FY2021$19.3M
FY2022$26.2M
FY2023$32.0M
FY2024$33.1M
FY2024$34.5M
Expenses
$17.3M
FY2021▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.6M
FY2021$17.3M
FY2022$25.0M
FY2023$31.3M
FY2024$32.7M
FY2024$34.2M
Net assets
$11.6M
FY2021▲ +22%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$9.5M
FY2021$11.6M
FY2022$12.8M
FY2023$13.5M
FY2024$13.9M
FY2024$14.1M

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 (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2001.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $15.5M Management & general 10% · $1.7M Fundraising 0% · $51K

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

16 people listed on the 990; $838K 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
Executive Director/CEO
$158,631Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Growth & Susta
$121,580Pt VII · Sec A
$117,196Pt VII · Sec A
Assistant Principal
$111,873Pt VII · Sec A
Principal
$111,184Pt VII · Sec A
Math Lead
$110,798Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Academic Officer
$106,631Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Farnaz Golshani Flechner’s $203K as Superintendent (ending 05/2025) is at the 38th 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

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Farnaz Golshani Flechner$202,905$199,127————
Danielle Kelsick$173,755$162,756$158,421$142,251$106,631$105,418
Farnaz Golshani-Flechner——$172,237$168,356$158,631$140,500
Dave Trejo$151,937$151,310$127,615$124,009$111,184—
Cindy Guardado—$151,842$136,771———
Qiana O'Leary—————$142,280
Amy Johnson$142,025—————
Lucia Banuelos$140,380$136,407————

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 four public charter schools for students in grades 6-12.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $15.5M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Public charter schools providing educational opportunities to the surrounding community. During the year ended june 30, 2021 the organization served approximately 1,223 students and provided approximately 175 instructional days.

$15.5Mprogram 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 · FY2024
NaturebridgeFY2024$39K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$104K
See all 5 funders →
Grants paid · 2 grants · $3.3M · 2022–2023
Menlo Charter PropertiesCA · FY2023$650,000
Menlo Charter PropertiesCA · FY2022$2,608,437

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$19.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.1M
Other incomeLn 4–11$231K
Investment incomeLn 3$15K
Money outPt IX
$17.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$15.5M
Managementcol C$1.7M
Fundraisingcol D$51K
Owns and owesPt X
$11.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.5M
Total assetsLn 16$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$19.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$18.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10K
Investment incomeLn 3$15K
Other incomeLn 4–11$231K
Total revenueLn 12$19.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.4M
SavingsLn 2$2.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$6.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.9M
Other assetsLn 15$146K
Total assetsLn 16$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M
Net assetsLn 32$11.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5328
VolunteersI 6100
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$6.6M$6.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.4M$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$12.7M$15.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.2M$4.2M
Net assetsLn 32$9.5M$11.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$342K$252K$45K$45K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$9.6M$9.2M$348K$6K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$1.2M$1.1M$38K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$992K$968K$24K
Payroll taxesLn 10$326K$291K$34K
Management feesLn 11a$105K$105K
Legal feesLn 11b$40K$40K
Accounting feesLn 11c$176K$35K$141K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.0M$1.0M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$47K$47K−$25
Office expensesLn 13$752K$594K$158K
Information technologyLn 14$60K$60K
OccupancyLn 16$1.4M$1.0M$373K
TravelLn 17$4K$2K$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19−$1K−$1K
InterestLn 20$27K$27K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$195K$146K$49K
InsuranceLn 23$94K$94K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$874K$651K$223K
Total functional expensesLn 25$17.3M$15.5M$1.7M$51K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $33.1M$32.7M$381K$13.9M 990 PDF
FY2023 $32.0M$31.3M$727K$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $26.2M$25.0M$1.2M$12.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $19.3M$17.3M$2.1M$11.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $17.6M$17.6M−$20K$9.5M 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 $19,311,069 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $17,504,580$19,064,868
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $22,726$15,416
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $84,307$230,785
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $17,611,613$19,311,069
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 $11,863,634$12,441,289
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,767,695$4,815,025
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $17,631,329$17,256,314
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$19,716$2,054,755
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $19,311,069 across 7 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $76,844 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$18,447,730
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$617,138
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$10,500
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$19,064,868
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $15,416$15,416
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $153,941$153,941
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $76,844 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $169,357$19,311,069
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $17,256,314 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $251,770 · Management $45,146 · Fundraising $45,147$342,063
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $9,240,660 · Management $348,462 · Fundraising $5,979$9,595,101
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,149,062 · Management $37,695$1,186,757
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $967,946 · Management $23,713$991,659
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $291,300 · Management $34,409$325,709
IX-11a Management feesManagement $104,603$104,603
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $40,186$40,186
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $34,799 · Management $141,115$175,914
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,027,253$1,027,253
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $46,965 · Management −$25$46,940
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $593,524 · Management $158,227$751,751
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $59,655$59,655
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,043,755 · Management $372,510$1,416,265
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,926 · Management $2,322$4,248
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms −$1,305−$1,305
IX-20 InterestManagement $26,930$26,930
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $146,251 · Management $48,751$195,002
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $93,618$93,618
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $650,811 · Management $223,154$873,965
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $15,504,372 · Management $1,700,816 · Fundraising $51,126$17,256,314
Part X · Balance sheet $15,814,476 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $4,563,519$4,425,275
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,020,718$2,032,228
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,534,983$6,160,504
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $92,848$100,905
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,383,576$2,949,397
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $141,847$146,167
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $12,737,491$15,814,476
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $916,934$992,537
X-19 Deferred revenue$946,626
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $2,280,593$2,280,594
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,197,527$4,219,757
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $9,511,582$11,566,337
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $28,382$28,382
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $9,539,964$11,594,719
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $12,737,491$15,814,476
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $11,594,719 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$19,311,069
XI-2 Total expenses$17,256,314
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,054,755
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$9,539,964
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$11,594,719

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

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