Link Community Charter School INC

Tax-deductible

Newark, NJ501(c)(3)Since 2014EducationEIN 46-5614487

Link community charter school will provide an outstanding elementary and middle school education for learners of all academic abilities by developing the mind, body, and spirit through a strong curriculum, experiential learning, immersion in the arts, and an enduring commitment to core values. This will allow them to be successful in competitive high schools and become responsible and resourceful citizens who give back to others.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 8 volunteers and 71 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

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
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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $274K a year · 3% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$673K
to officers and key staff · 8% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 66% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 8% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $604K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$3.6M
152% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 152% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
8
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 8 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.8M
-4% vs prior year
Spent
$8.5M
To programs
72%
Net assets
−$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$8.8M
FY2024▼ -4%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.7M
FY2021$8.1M
FY2022$8.2M
FY2023$8.6M
FY2024$9.2M
FY2024$8.8M
Expenses
$8.5M
FY2024▼ -16%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.1M
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$8.5M
FY2023$8.8M
FY2024$10.1M
FY2024$8.5M
Net assets
−$1.2M
FY2024▲ +22%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$565K
FY2021−$139K
FY2022−$460K
FY2023−$696K
FY2024−$1.6M
FY2024−$1.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 2017.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $6.1M Management & general 28% · $2.4M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Who runs it and what they're paid

14 people listed on the 990; $673K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
$153,264Pt VII · Sec A
$128,581Pt VII · Sec A
$121,711Pt VII · Sec A
$119,700Pt VII · Sec A
$106,388Pt VII · Sec A
$42,886Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Maria Pilar Paradiso’s $153K as Head of Scho is at the 66th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Maria Pilar Paradiso$153,264$157,463$149,352$153,680$142,800$143,770
Kathleen Hester——$142,916$139,871$139,871$134,695
Gina Schiano$128,581$126,913$122,743———
Leslie Baynes$121,711$118,827$114,459$117,491$117,491$103,084
Hannah Kennedy$119,700$87,360————
Christine Lynskey—$110,117$100,692———
Josephine Arizmendi$106,388$108,976—$102,162——
Bima Baje$42,886$45,022$41,614$40,625$40,625$42,016

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 Link Community Charter School INC executive salaries →

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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

Educates children, fostering learning, values, and success in competitive high schools.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until Link Community Charter School INC claims this page.

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3 program services account for $6.1M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

The charter school provides a full range of educational services appropriate to kindergarten, grades 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8. These services include regular, as well as special education and basic skills instruction. The charter school completed the 2024-2025 school year with an enrollment of 341 students.

$4.8Mprogram expense
02

The charter school implemented the every student succeeds act (essa) and the idea programs. These programs were enacted by congress to preauthorize the elementary and secondary education act with major focus on providing all children with fair, equal and significant opportunity to have a high quality education through enrichment…

$944Kprogram expense
03

The charter school provided nutritionally balanced, low cost or free meals to students each school day through its breakfast and lunch programs. The programs are federally and state assisted.

$375Kprogram expense

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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
See all 3 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.8M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.4M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Other incomeLn 4–11$135K
Money outPt IX
$8.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$6.1M
Managementcol C$2.4M
Owns and owesPt X
−$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$796K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A6
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$6.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$135K
Total revenueLn 12$8.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$687K
SavingsLn 2$109K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$796K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$16K
Other assetsLn 15$660K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.6M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 571
VolunteersI 68
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$687K$796K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22K$16K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.7M$3.6M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.6M−$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$545K$545K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.6M$2.8M$803K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$731K$523K$207K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$501K$391K$110K
Payroll taxesLn 10$260K$179K$82K
Legal feesLn 11b$31K$31K
Accounting feesLn 11c$34K$34K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.6M$1.2M$425K
Office expensesLn 13$239K$190K$49K
OccupancyLn 16$84K$84K
InterestLn 20$23K$23K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$310K$213K$97K
InsuranceLn 23$158K$158K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$426K$403K$23K
Total functional expensesLn 25$8.5M$6.1M$2.4M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $9.2M$10.1M−$859K−$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.6M$8.8M−$236K−$696K 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.2M$8.5M−$324K−$460K 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.1M$7.6M$414K−$139K 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.7M$7.1M−$364K−$565K 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 FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $8,826,640 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,195,931
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$94,118
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,290,049
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $6,401,260$6,401,260
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $135,331$135,331
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,536,591$8,826,640
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $8,485,282 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $545,329$545,329
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,755,047 · Management $803,221$3,558,268
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $523,285 · Management $207,405$730,690
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $390,625 · Management $110,337$500,962
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $178,555 · Management $81,784$260,339
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $31,231$31,231
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $34,000$34,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,159,176 · Management $425,232$1,584,408
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $190,138 · Management $49,044$239,182
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $84,075$84,075
IX-20 InterestPrograms $22,868$22,868
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $213,042 · Management $97,338$310,380
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $157,903$157,903
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $403,142 · Management $22,505$425,647
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $6,077,856 · Management $2,407,426 · Fundraising $0$8,485,282
Part X · Balance sheet $2,349,886 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $557,084$687,471
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $129,886$108,975
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $991,016$876,739
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $22,159$16,440
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,490,193$660,261
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,190,338$2,349,886
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $619,484$436,122
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $148,739$194,109
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,976,641$2,932,823
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $4,744,864$3,563,054
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$1,592,939−$1,234,328
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $38,413$21,160
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$1,554,526−$1,213,168
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,190,338$2,349,886
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$1,213,168 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,826,640
XI-2 Total expenses$8,485,282
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$341,358
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$1,554,526
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$1,213,168

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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