Mathematical Staircase

Tax-deductible

Ardmore, PA501(c)(3)Since 2013EducationEIN 46-1813949Revenue $519K in FY2025

On file with the IRSmathstaircase.org214 Lippincott Ave, 19003-2108 · Ardmore, PATax-exempt since May 2013Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

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The specific purposes for which the corporation is organized are to educate mathematically talented secondary and tertiary students in mathematical thinking and writing. The means of providing such education includes, but is not limited to, establishing residential summer programs for instructing such students.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
99¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 4 volunteers and 3 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $43K a year · 10% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
99%
of spending
Looks good: 99% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$49K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 63% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 8.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $34K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4K
1% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$519K
-17% vs prior year
Spent
$500K
To programs
99%
Net assets
$355K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$519K
FY2025▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$217K
FY2021$223K
FY2022$495K
FY2023$547K
FY2024$625K
FY2025$519K
Expenses
$500K
FY2025▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$150K
FY2021$152K
FY2022$524K
FY2023$511K
FY2024$532K
FY2025$500K
Net assets
$355K
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$155K
FY2021$225K
FY2022$196K
FY2023$240K
FY2024$336K
FY2025$355K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2013.

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

Where the money goes

99 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 99% · $497K Management & general 1% · $3K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $49K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and Chair of the Board
$45,983Pt VII · Sec A
Clerk and Secretary of the Board
$3,337Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Sarah-Marie Belcastro PHD’s $46K as President and Chair of the Board is at the 37th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Sarah-Marie Belcastro PHD$45,983$49,140$44,098$39,114$35,596$29,648
Hannah Alpert PHD$3,337——$4,328$4,244$5,530
Emily Peters PHD——$3,049—$472$943

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

Teaches talented students mathematical thinking and writing through summer programs.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $489K · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Mathily

a residential summer program for mathematically gifted high-school students. Number of students enrolled was 46 in a 5-week program of courses, presentations and leisure activities. Fifteen trainees (staff members) also benefitted.

$279Kprogram expense
02

Mathily-Er

Similar to MathILy with slightly younger students and who are earlier in their mathematical development. Number of students enrolled was 32 in a 5-week program of courses, presentations and leisure activities. Eleven trainees (staff members) also benefitted.

$164Kprogram expense
03

Mathily-Est

A Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) focused on beginning college students. Number of students enrolled was 4 in an 8-week program focused on a program of research, presentations, interactions with the MathILy students and leisure activities.

$47Kprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$34K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$519K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$395K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$110K
Investment incomeLn 3$14K
Money outPt IX
$500K
Ln 25
Programscol B$497K
Managementcol C$3K
Owns and owesPt X
$355K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$359K
Total assetsLn 16$359K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$110K
Government grantsLn 1e$47K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$395K
Investment incomeLn 3$14K
Total revenueLn 12$519K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$12K
SavingsLn 2$348K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$359K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$359K
LiabilitiesLn 26$4K
Net assetsLn 32$355K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 53
VolunteersI 64
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$345K$359K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$345K$359K
LiabilitiesLn 26$10K$4K
Net assetsLn 32$336K$355K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$49K$49K$0$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$25K$25K$0$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0$0$0$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$0$0$0$0
Payroll taxesLn 10$5K$5K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0$0$0$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$2K$0$2K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0$0$0$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$0$0$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$319$319$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$11K$10K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$0$0$0$0
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$0$0$0$0
TravelLn 17$16K$16K$0$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0$0$0$0
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$384K$384K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$500K$497K$3K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $519K$500K$19K$355K 990 PDF
FY2024 $625K$532K$94K$336K 990 PDF
FY2023 $547K$511K$36K$240K 990 PDF
FY2022 $495K$524K−$29K$196K 990 PDF
FY2021 $223K$152K$71K$225K 990 PDF
FY2020 $217K$150K$67K$155K 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 $519,331 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $270,172$109,966
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $343,934$395,067
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $11,338$14,298
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $625,444$519,331
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 $82,037$78,597
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $449,697$421,549
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $531,734$500,146
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $93,710$19,185
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $519,331 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$46,880
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$63,086
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$109,966
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $395,067 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$395,067
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $14,298 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$14,298
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $409,365 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$519,331
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $500,146 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $0$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $0$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $0$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $49,320 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$49,320
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $24,502 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$24,502
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $4,775$4,775
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $2,120 · Fundraising $0$2,120
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $319 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$319
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $9,981 · Management $1,009$10,990
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-17 TravelPrograms $16,298 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$16,298
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,452$7,452
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $384,370 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$384,370
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $497,017 · Management $3,129 · Fundraising $0$500,146
Part X · Balance sheet $359,208 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $44,004$11,529
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $301,418$347,679
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$0
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $345,422$359,208
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $9,514$4,114
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $9,514$4,114
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $335,908$355,094
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $335,908$355,094
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $345,422$359,208
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $355,094 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$519,331
XI-2 Total expenses$500,146
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$19,185
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$335,908
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$355,094

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

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