To assist participating school Districts to work together to innovate, implement and scale new strategies and tools to help students succeed and meet the challenges of the 21st century.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.4M paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $61K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 20% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 20% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.0 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $1.7M
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$463K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
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
$5.8M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$6.8M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$5.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$5.8M
FY2023▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$7.9M
FY2021$8.9M
FY2022$5.7M
FY2023$5.8M
FY2024$7.2M
FY2025$8.1M
Expenses
$6.8M
FY2023▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.2M
FY2021$6.9M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$6.8M
FY2024$6.8M
FY2025$7.4M
Net assets
$5.1M
FY2023▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.4M
FY2021$7.4M
FY2022$6.1M
FY2023$5.1M
FY2024$5.4M
FY2025$6.1M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

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

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

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $5.8M Management & general 14% · $964K Fundraising 1% · $45K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director, Core Capability Building Progr
$229,661Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Improvement, District Partnerships
$222,879Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$167,735Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Core Data Collaborative
$164,759Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Improvement Coach
$125,202Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Business Officer
$124,086Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Improvement Coach
$120,113Pt VII · Sec A
Data Strategist
$116,396Pt VII · Sec A

Michelle Steagall’s $242K as Executive Director, Core Capability Building Prog. is at the 90th 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Michelle Steagall$242,066$229,661$229,661
David Montes De Oca$232,351$222,879$222,879
Brigitte Marshall$179,199$167,735$167,735
David Calhoun$129,342$164,759$164,759
Latoya Bufford$136,851$116,396$116,396
Brenda Escoriza Paredes$132,380——
Samuel Milder$125,451$120,113$120,113
Gina Pascaul—$125,202$125,202

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 Core Districts 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

Improves student achievement by fostering collaboration and learning among California school districts.

Questions for Core Districts

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Your first name shows with your question. Core Districts answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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2 programs · $5.8M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Improvement Networks

Capability building programs is a program that offers several opportunities for educators to learn and develop skills in continuous improvement to tackle specific problems of practice in their local CONTEXTS.BREAKTHROUGH success community is a program aimed at improving 9TH graders on track readiness for college and career.

$4.1Mprogram expense
02

Data Analytics

Insights dashboard is a program developed to refine the calculation at the heart of core's multiple measures accountability system as well as building capacity for systemic SUCCESS.THE ed-fi improvement collaborative is a community of 7 county offices of education and 8 school districts seeking to seamlessly and securely connect their…

$1.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$1.7M
Grants paid · 47 grants · $1.6M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$346,956
Unitemized GrantFY2023$302,115
Unitemized GrantFY2022$301,125
Various Organizations Under 5kFY2022$26,250
Individual RecipientFY2022$12,000
Unitemized GrantFY2021$311,630
Various Organizations Under 5kFY2021$9,732
Van Nuys High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Sunnyside High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Roosevelt High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Richard Browning High SchoolFY2021$6,000
McLane High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Lincoln High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Lakewood High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Grossmont Union High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Fremont High SchoolFY2021$6,000
El Diamante High SchoolFY2021$6,000
Duncan High SchoolFY2021$6,000
See all 47 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$115K
Money outPt IX
$6.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.8M
Managementcol C$964K
Fundraisingcol D$45K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.0M
Total assetsLn 16$5.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$463K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b8
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$115K
Total revenueLn 12$5.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.1M
SavingsLn 2$2.9M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$5.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$463K
Net assetsLn 32$5.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 518
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4.9M$4.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.3M$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$6.4M$5.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$327K$463K
Net assetsLn 32$6.1M$5.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$38K$38K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$301K$301K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$825K$725K$100K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.1M$155K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$46K$41K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$105K$93K$13K
Payroll taxesLn 10$149K$131K$18K
Management feesLn 11a$1.2M$835K$301K$45K
Accounting feesLn 11c$38K$38K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.7M$1.5M$170K
Office expensesLn 13$82K$64K$18K
Information technologyLn 14$27K$21K$6K
OccupancyLn 16$3K$2K$660
TravelLn 17$44K$44K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$650K$636K$14K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$309K$242K$67K
InsuranceLn 23$22K$17K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$33K$26K$7K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.8M$5.8M$964K$45K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $8.1M$7.4M$668K$6.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $7.2M$6.8M$386K$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $5.8M$6.8M−$1.0M$5.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.7M$7.0M−$1.3M$6.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 $8.9M$6.9M$2.0M$7.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $7.9M$8.2M−$360K$5.4M 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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $5,808,500 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,160,000$3,020,081
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,512,828$2,673,891
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $12,549$114,528
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,685,377$5,808,500
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $405,362$339,375
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,175,304$2,407,483
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $5,405,472$4,076,904
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,986,138$6,823,762
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$1,300,761−$1,015,262
Part VI · Governance 8 of 8 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members8
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 $5,808,500 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,020,081
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,020,081
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,673,891$2,673,891
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $114,528$114,528
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,673,891 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $114,528$5,808,500
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,823,762 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $38,250$38,250
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $301,125$301,125
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $724,569 · Management $99,964$824,533
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,126,936 · Management $155,476$1,282,412
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $40,587 · Management $5,600$46,187
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $92,540 · Management $12,767$105,307
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $130,974 · Management $18,070$149,044
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $835,367 · Management $301,003 · Fundraising $44,670$1,181,040
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $38,187$38,187
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,515,966 · Management $170,461$1,686,427
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $64,231 · Management $18,113$82,344
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $21,131 · Management $5,960$27,091
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,340 · Management $660$3,000
IX-17 TravelManagement $44,419$44,419
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $635,980 · Management $13,799$649,779
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $241,596 · Management $67,153$308,749
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $17,453 · Management $4,922$22,375
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $26,178 · Management $7,315$33,493
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,815,223 · Management $963,869 · Fundraising $44,670$6,823,762
Part X · Balance sheet $5,514,206 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $659,789$1,092,312
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $4,213,046$2,870,845
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $167,511$291,718
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $48,246$206,879
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,304,503$1,052,452
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $6,393,095$5,514,206
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $317,828$462,951
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $8,750$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $326,578$462,951
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,086,450$4,161,104
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,980,067$890,151
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,066,517$5,051,255
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $6,393,095$5,514,206
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,051,255 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,808,500
XI-2 Total expenses$6,823,762
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,015,262
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,066,517
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,051,255

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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