Fern Leaf Community Charter School

Tax-deductible

Fletcher, NC501(c)(3)Since 2013EducationEIN 47-1184515Revenue $11.7M in FY2025

On file with the IRSfernleafccs.org58 Howard Gap Rd, 28732-9503 · Fletcher, NCTax-exempt since May 2015School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Operation of a Charter School grades k-12

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 300 volunteers and 142 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 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $647K a year · 10% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$184K
to officers and key staff · 2% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 98% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 2% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $275K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$24.8M
82% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 82% of assets; over 80%.
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
$11.7M
+48% vs prior year
Spent
$9.3M
To programs
87%
Net assets
$5.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$11.7M
FY2025▲ +48%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$3.0M
FY2021$3.9M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$7.9M
FY2025$11.7M
Expenses
$9.3M
FY2025▲ +17%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$3.2M
FY2022$4.5M
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$7.9M
FY2025$9.3M
Net assets
$5.5M
FY2025▲ +80%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.7M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$5.5M

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. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 2015.

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

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $8.0M Management & general 13% · $1.2M

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

8 people listed on the 990; $184K 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
School Direc
$95,774Pt VII · Sec A
$88,043Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Brd Mbr Thru
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair/T
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Michael Luplow’s $96K as School Direc is at the 2nd 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michael Luplow$95,774$95,887$93,221$87,276$84,717$82,434
Scott McDonald$88,043—————

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 Fern Leaf Community Charter School 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 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $8.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Fernleaf's programs balance traditional academics with social-emotional learning, arts, service LEARNING/STEWARDSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL/OUTDOOR education, cultural awareness, and comprehensive health and wellness.

$8.0Mprogram 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
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$397K
Investment incomeLn 3$38K
Money outPt IX
$9.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$8.0M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Owns and owesPt X
$5.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.0M
Total assetsLn 16$30.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$24.8M
PeoplePt VI, VII
8
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$8.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$397K
Investment incomeLn 3$38K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$882K
Total revenueLn 12$11.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$153K
SavingsLn 2$1.8M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$27.9M
Total assetsLn 16$30.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$24.8M
Net assetsLn 32$5.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5142
VolunteersI 6300
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$949K$2.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22.8M$27.9M
Total assetsLn 16$24.0M$30.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$20.9M$24.8M
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M$5.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$239K$239K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$88K$88K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.6M$4.1M$526K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$364K$336K$28K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$634K$613K$20K
Payroll taxesLn 10$387K$350K$37K
Management feesLn 11a$1K$1K
Legal feesLn 11b$13K$13K
Accounting feesLn 11c$35K$35K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$326K$320K$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$31K$31K
Office expensesLn 13$828K$607K$220K
OccupancyLn 16$101K$101K
InterestLn 20$703K$703K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$798K$798K
InsuranceLn 23$107K$34K$73K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$12K$12K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.3M$8.0M$1.2M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $11.7M$9.3M$2.4M$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $7.9M$7.9M−$16K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.9M$6.0M−$28K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.0M$4.5M$451K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.9M$3.2M$743K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $3.0M$2.7M$286K$1.9M 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 $11,720,192 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $7,223,513$11,771,843
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $355,435$396,781
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $26,795−$844,311
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $287,905$395,879
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $7,893,648$11,720,192
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $5,412,723$6,319,291
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,497,315$2,954,336
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $7,910,038$9,273,627
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$16,390$2,446,565
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $11,720,192 across 8 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $61,183 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$8,171,066
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,600,777
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,771,843
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $396,781$396,781
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $37,831$37,831
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$882,142−$882,142
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $334,696$334,696
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $396,781 · Excluded from tax −$448,432$11,720,192
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,273,627 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $238,957$238,957
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $87,550$87,550
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,082,076 · Management $526,007$4,608,083
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $335,723 · Management $28,118$363,841
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $613,348 · Management $20,493$633,841
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $350,091 · Management $36,928$387,019
IX-11a Management feesManagement $1,200$1,200
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $12,693$12,693
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $35,233$35,233
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $319,797 · Management $6,361$326,158
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $30,576$30,576
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $607,399 · Management $220,195$827,594
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $101,092$101,092
IX-20 InterestPrograms $703,314$703,314
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $797,515$797,515
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,979 · Management $72,617$106,596
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $12,365$12,365
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $8,044,249 · Management $1,229,378 · Fundraising $0$9,273,627
Part X · Balance sheet $30,331,178 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $141,602$153,310
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $807,512$1,838,818
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $226,283$422,711
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $21,713$26,164
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $22,763,491$27,890,175
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $23,960,601$30,331,178
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,490,301$1,000,287
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $32,650$252,394
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $20,897,767$24,821,779
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,062,834$5,509,399
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $23,960,601$30,331,178
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,509,399 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,720,192
XI-2 Total expenses$9,273,627
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$2,446,565
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,062,834
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,509,399

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

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