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Method Schools

Tax-deductible

Temecula, CA501(c)(3)Since 2013Education EIN 46-2686111Revenue $16.9M in FY2025

On file with the IRSmethodschools.org27232 Via Industria, 92590-3751 · Temecula, CATax-exempt since Jun 2021School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Method Schools operates public charter Schools serving students in grades k-12.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
89¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 5 volunteers and 225 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.3M a year · 22% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
89%
of spending
Looks good: 89% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.7M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 68% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
31 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 30.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$7.1M
18% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 18% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 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
$16.9M
-8% vs prior year
Spent
$14.4M
To programs
89%
Net assets
$33.2M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$16.9M
FY2025▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$20.9M
FY2022$6.3M
FY2023$12.2M
FY2024$18.4M
FY2025$16.9M
Expenses
$14.4M
FY2025▲ +14%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$11.0M
FY2022$9.8M
FY2023$10.5M
FY2024$12.6M
FY2025$14.4M
Net assets
$33.2M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$26.6M
FY2022$23.0M
FY2023$24.8M
FY2024$30.6M
FY2025$33.2M

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. Revoked Nov 2020, reinstated. IRS ruling Jun 2021, per the IRS master file. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 2021.

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

Where the money goes

89 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 89% · $12.8M Management & general 11% · $1.6M

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

14 people listed on the 990; $1.7M 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
$315,076Pt VII · Sec A
Mark Holley
Co-Founder, Cbo
$274,135Pt VII · Sec A
Stefanie Bryant
Director of Accounting & Finance
$196,812Pt VII · Sec A
Suzanne Fernandez
Chief Operating Officer
$184,835Pt VII · Sec A
Sarah Delawder
Director of Curriculum
$168,615Pt VII · Sec A
Sarah Avanessian
Director of Learning and Experience
$143,496Pt VII · Sec A
Amy Pinter
Middle School Teacher
$138,687Pt VII · Sec A
Jay Kott
Database Developer (left 09/31/24)
$127,467Pt VII · Sec A

Jessica Spallino’s $315K as CEO is at the 68th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Jessica Spallino$315,076$249,056$242,031$228,848$210,455
Mark Holley$274,135$220,216$214,904$204,338$189,405
Stefanie Bryant$196,812$169,478$163,013$65,674—
Suzanne Fernandez$184,835$145,374$141,279$126,717$116,644
Sarah Delawder$168,615————
Sarah Avanessian$143,496————
Jana Sosnowski———$139,464$113,768
Amy Pinter$138,687————

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 public charter schools for students in grades K-12.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $12.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Operation of public charter schools providing education to students in grades k-12. Method schools is an independent study program that offers a blended environment which combines online curriculum with on-site and virtual teacher instruction. The school has multiple tracks to offer year-round enrollment access for students.

$12.8Mprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$848K
Other incomeLn 4–11$92K
Money outPt IX
$14.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$12.8M
Managementcol C$1.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$33.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$37.0M
Total assetsLn 16$40.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.1M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A14
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$16.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$16.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$848K
Other incomeLn 4–11$92K
Total revenueLn 12$16.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.1M
SavingsLn 2$35.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$37.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.6M
Other assetsLn 15$54K
Total assetsLn 16$40.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$7.1M
Net assetsLn 32$33.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5225
VolunteersI 65
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
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$34.9M$37.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$87K$1.6M
Total assetsLn 16$35.6M$40.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.0M$7.1M
Net assetsLn 32$30.6M$33.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.1M$952K$168K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7.6M$7.4M$249K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$224K$220K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$937K$906K$31K
Payroll taxesLn 10$548K$523K$25K
Management feesLn 11a$133K$133K
Legal feesLn 11b$56K$56K
Accounting feesLn 11c$167K$167K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$546K$542K$5K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$199K$18K$181K
Office expensesLn 13$59K$10K$49K
Information technologyLn 14$774K$660K$115K
OccupancyLn 16$222K$222K
TravelLn 17$107K$107K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$74K$74K
InsuranceLn 23$69K$69K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.5M$1.5M$15K
Total functional expensesLn 25$14.4M$12.8M$1.6M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $16.9M$14.4M$2.6M$33.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $18.4M$12.6M$5.8M$30.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $12.2M$10.5M$1.7M$24.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.3M$9.8M−$3.5M$23.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $20.9M$11.0M$9.9M$26.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $16,949,280 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $17,822,996$16,009,162
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $542,198$848,370
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $8,755$91,748
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $18,373,949$16,949,280
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 $9,724,695$10,461,662
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,838,339$3,921,358
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $12,563,034$14,383,020
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $5,810,915$2,566,260
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $16,949,280 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$16,009,162
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$16,009,162
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $848,370$848,370
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $91,748$91,748
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $940,118$16,949,280
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $14,383,020 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $952,057 · Management $168,010$1,120,067
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,383,162 · Management $249,009$7,632,171
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $219,844 · Management $4,565$224,409
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $906,065 · Management $31,098$937,163
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $522,576 · Management $25,276$547,852
IX-11a Management feesManagement $133,315$133,315
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $55,949$55,949
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $167,337$167,337
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $541,609 · Management $4,559$546,168
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $17,788 · Management $181,090$198,878
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $10,023 · Management $49,409$59,432
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $659,567 · Management $114,661$774,228
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $222,195$222,195
IX-17 TravelPrograms $106,623$106,623
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $73,509$73,509
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $69,161$69,161
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,499,939 · Management $14,624$1,514,563
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $12,819,253 · Management $1,563,767 · Fundraising $0$14,383,020
Part X · Balance sheet $40,214,726 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,885,394$1,141,014
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $32,041,034$35,883,186
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $325,229$210,258
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$1,236,475
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $128,755$87,717
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $86,866$1,601,898
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $138,795$54,178
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $35,606,073$40,214,726
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,426,385$6,046,666
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,444,777$952,023
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $141,395$55,835
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,012,557$7,054,524
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $30,593,516$33,160,202
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $30,593,516$33,160,202
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $35,606,073$40,214,726
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $33,160,202 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$16,949,280
XI-2 Total expenses$14,383,020
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,566,260
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$30,593,516
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$426
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$33,160,202

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

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