The Game Academy is a non-profit organization committed to the social, emotional and academic success of learners of all ages through the use of tabletop role-playing games and live-action role play.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
99¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$43K 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

FY2020 · 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
0 of 2
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $29K a year · 14% of revenue · last 2 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 2 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 2 filings
Spent on programs
99%
of spending
Looks good: 99% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$43K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.7 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $179
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$115K
124% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 124% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 7 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 7 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$232K
Spent
$236K
To programs
99%
Net assets
−$23K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$232K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$232K
FY2021$177K
FY2022$194K
FY2023$146K
FY2024$61K
Expenses
$236K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$236K
FY2021$232K
FY2022Not on file
FY2023Not on file
FY2024Not on file
Net assets
−$23K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$23K
FY2021−$76K
FY2022−$117K
FY2023−$147K
FY2024−$138K

From the FY2020 Form 990 · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in May 2016.

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

Where the money goes

99 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 99% · $233K Management & general 0% · $820 Fundraising 1% · $1K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $43K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Board Member & Curriculum Developer
$41,418Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$1,650Pt VII · Sec A
Board President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Herbert Holcomb’s $14K as Executive Dir. is at the 48th percentile of top reported officer pay among 146 <$100K 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Herbert Holcomb$14,350$43,954$47,634——
Bert Holcomb———$44,768$41,418
Aaron Vanek————$1,650
Michael Azzolino——$1,000——

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 Game Academy executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Uses tabletop games to boost social, emotional, and academic success for all ages.

Questions for Game Academy

Tap to ask. Game Academy sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Game Academy answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $233K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

This corporation's primary objective and purpose shall be to empower learners to achieve social, emotional, and academic success through engaging, interactive role-playing games. Enrichment Gaming Program 2019; 120 unique participants. Adventure Gaming Summer Camp 2019: 102 unique participants.

$233Kprogram 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 · FY2023
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$179

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$232K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$201K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$31K
Money outPt IX
$236K
Ln 25
Programscol B$233K
Managementcol C$820
Fundraisingcol D$1K
Owns and owesPt X
−$23K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$93K
Total assetsLn 16$93K
LiabilitiesLn 26$115K
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a7
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$31K
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$201K
Total revenueLn 12$232K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$92K
SavingsLn 2$450
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$93K
Total assetsLn 16$93K
LiabilitiesLn 26$115K
Net assetsLn 32−$23K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 520
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$4K$93K
Total assetsLn 16$4K$93K
LiabilitiesLn 26$22K$115K
Net assetsLn 32−$19K−$23K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1K$1K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$41K$41K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$120K$120K
Payroll taxesLn 10$14K$14K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$425$425
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$17K$17K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3K$3K
Office expensesLn 13$12K$11K$121$887
Information technologyLn 14$3K$3K$125
OccupancyLn 16$12K$12K$699
TravelLn 17$95$95
InterestLn 20$356$356
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4K$4K$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$236K$233K$820$1K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $61K−$138K 990 PDF
FY2023 $146K−$147K 990 PDF
FY2022 $194K−$117K 990 PDF
FY2021 $177K$232K−$55K−$76K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $232K$236K−$4K−$23K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $231,721 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $31,106$31,202
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $162,090$200,519
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $193,196$231,721
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,382$1,290
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $126,592$174,974
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$425
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $104,182$58,854
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $232,156$235,543
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$38,960−$3,822
Part VI · Governance 5 of 7 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body7
VI-1b Independent voting members5
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $231,721 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$0
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$31,202
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$31,202
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $200,519 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$200,519
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $200,519 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$231,721
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $235,543 across 14 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,290$1,290
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $41,418$41,418
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $119,671$119,671
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $13,885$13,885
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $425$425
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $17,042$17,042
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,511$2,511
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $11,092 · Management $121 · Fundraising $887$12,100
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,057 · Fundraising $125$3,182
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $11,789 · Management $699$12,488
IX-17 TravelPrograms $95$95
IX-20 InterestPrograms $356$356
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,941$6,941
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,139 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$4,139
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $233,286 · Management $820 · Fundraising $1,437$235,543
Part X · Balance sheet $92,546 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,752$92,085
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$450
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$11
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,752$92,546
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,566$8,464
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $18,882$106,600
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $22,448$115,064
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$18,696−$22,518
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$18,696−$22,518
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,752$92,546
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$22,518 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$231,721
XI-2 Total expenses$235,543
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,822
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$18,696
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$0
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$22,518

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.