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Exploration High School

Tax-deductible

Minneapolis, MN501(c)(3)Since 2014Education EIN 47-2140113Revenue $2.6M in FY2025

On file with the IRSexplorationhighschool.org2620 Russell Ave N, 55411-1725 · Minneapolis, MNTax-exempt since Nov 2018School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Built upon a foundation of academic excellence and a mindset to drive change, Exploration High School graduates are empowered with 21st century skills to solve the problems of their communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 10 volunteers and 20 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
2 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $9K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$117K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 70% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.0 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
4
named funders · $24K
Looks good: 4 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
100% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 100% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 7 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
$2.6M
+62% vs prior year
Spent
$2.4M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$9K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.6M
FY2025▲ +62%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$112K
FY2021$127K
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.6M
FY2025$2.6M
Expenses
$2.4M
FY2025▲ +34%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2022$936K
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$2.4M
Net assets
$9K
FY2025▲ +106%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$88K
FY2021$47K
FY2022$144K
FY2023$49K
FY2024−$157K
FY2025$9K

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. Exemption reinstated (2017-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2018.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $2.0M Management & general 14% · $346K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $117K 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
David Heighington
Executive Director (end 6.30.25)
$97,700Pt VII · Sec A
Andreas Jurewitsch
Member - Teacher
$19,691Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Amelia Corl
Board Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jemar Lee
Board Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Geoff Meyer
Member - Teacher
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

David Heighington’s $98K as Executive Director (end 6.30.25) is at the 30th 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 · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2021
David Heighington$97,700———
Dave Heighington—$92,000$77,500$22,600
Liz Ford—$49,659$44,733—
Nathan Strenge———$22,750
Andreas Jurewitsch$19,691———

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

Fosters empathetic, equitable problem solvers through collaborative learning and ideation.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Exploration is focused on student led learning and building individual learning experiences for all.

$2.0Mprogram 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
Greater Twin Cities United WayFY2024$10K
American Online Giving Foundation INCFY2024$8K
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFY2024$6K
The Graco FoundationFY2024$500
Total grants receivedfrom 4 funders$24K
See all 4 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$18K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2
Money outPt IX
$2.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.0M
Managementcol C$346K
Owns and owesPt X
$9K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$191K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$18K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2
Total revenueLn 12$2.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$191K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$191K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.4M
Other assetsLn 15$220K
Total assetsLn 16$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$9K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 520
VolunteersI 610
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$135K$191K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$109K$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$598K$2.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$756K$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32−$157K$9K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$181K$82K$99K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$835K$761K$74K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$80K$66K$14K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$59K$55K$5K
Payroll taxesLn 10$74K$61K$12K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$69K$69K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$275K$263K$12K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$31K$8K$23K
Information technologyLn 14$23K$2K$21K
OccupancyLn 16$487K$487K
TravelLn 17$158K$158K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$29K$26K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$65K$65K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.4M$2.0M$346K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.6M$2.4M$166K$9K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.6M$1.8M−$206K−$157K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.4M−$95K$49K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.0M$936K$97K$144K 990 PDF
FY2021 $127K$47K 990 PDF
FY2020 $112K$88K 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 O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,554,579 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,567,497$2,536,931
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $563$17,646
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,105$2
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,573,165$2,554,579
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 $1,175,335$1,229,557
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $603,434$1,158,835
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,778,769$2,388,392
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$205,604$166,187
Part VI · Governance 7 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $2,554,579 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,511,572
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$25,359
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,536,931
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $17,646$17,646
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2$2
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $17,648 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,554,579
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,388,392 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $82,492 · Management $98,700$181,192
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $760,971 · Management $74,428$835,399
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $66,211 · Management $13,620$79,831
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $54,615 · Management $4,686$59,301
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $61,439 · Management $12,395$73,834
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $10,678$10,678
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $68,844$68,844
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $263,209 · Management $11,746$274,955
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $3,082$3,082
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $8,121 · Management $23,172$31,293
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,614 · Management $21,386$23,000
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $487,467$487,467
IX-17 TravelPrograms $157,732$157,732
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $26,263 · Management $3,204$29,467
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $7,258$7,258
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $65,059$65,059
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,042,451 · Management $345,941 · Fundraising $0$2,388,392
Part X · Balance sheet $2,283,869 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $134,549$191,073
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $187,644$408,866
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $30,000$37,033
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $108,577$1,427,079
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $137,674$219,818
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $598,444$2,283,869
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $123,753$146,337
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $631,772$2,128,426
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $755,525$2,274,763
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$157,081$9,106
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $598,444$2,283,869
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $9,106 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,554,579
XI-2 Total expenses$2,388,392
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$166,187
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$157,081
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$9,106

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

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