Extra Special People INC

Tax-deductible

Watkinsville, GA501(c)(3)Since 1986EIN 58-1710803Revenue $12.5M in FY2025

On file with the IRSespyouandme.orgPo Box 615, 30677-0015 · Watkinsville, GATax-exempt since Aug 1988Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Extra special people exists to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, changing communities for the better.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 2,049 volunteers and 304 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
6 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $4.3M a year · 50% of revenue · last 6 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 6 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$279K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $139K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.9M
10% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 10% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.5M
-35% vs prior year
Spent
$7.4M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$26.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$12.5M
FY2025▼ -35%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$6.7M
FY2023$6.0M
FY2024$19.3M
FY2025$12.5M
Expenses
$7.4M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$4.0M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$7.4M
Net assets
$26.1M
FY2025▲ +24%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$6.8M
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$11.4M
FY2023$15.5M
FY2024$21.0M
FY2025$26.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending August 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 Aug 1988.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $5.6M Management & general 13% · $935K Fundraising 12% · $889K

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

21 people listed on the 990; $279K 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
$169,399Pt VII · Sec A
$109,122Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member (part Year)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Laura Whitaker$169,399$109,506$84,825$67,580$54,518$54,045
Meredith Jolly$109,122—————

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

Creates transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, improving communities.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $5.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

ESP serves individuals with behavior disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, autism, Asperger's, fetal alcohol syndrome, Angelman syndrome, spina bifida, and many more. No child with a disability is turned away from ESP. 1093 families were served in the fiscal year.

$5.6Mprogram 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 · FY2025
See all 8 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$984K
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Money outPt IX
$7.4M
Ln 25
Programscol B$5.6M
Managementcol C$935K
Fundraisingcol D$889K
Owns and owesPt X
$26.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.2M
Total assetsLn 16$29.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.4M
Government grantsLn 1e$900K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$193K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$984K
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$68K
Total revenueLn 12$12.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.7M
SavingsLn 2$430K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8.2M
Other assetsLn 15$6.4M
Total assetsLn 16$29.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M
Net assetsLn 32$26.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5304
VolunteersI 62,049
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
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$3.2M$2.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.0M$6.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$8.2M$8.2M
Total assetsLn 16$24.6M$29.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.6M$2.9M
Net assetsLn 32$21.0M$26.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$318K$267K$13K$38K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.0M$2.5M$121K$363K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$15K$13K$606$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$141K$119K$6K$17K
Payroll taxesLn 10$251K$211K$10K$30K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$129K$129K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$23K$23K
Investment management feesLn 11f$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$290K$45K$246K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$226K$111K$111K$4K
Office expensesLn 13$697K$586K$28K$84K
Information technologyLn 14$8K$7K$952$317
OccupancyLn 16$869K$739K$35K$96K
TravelLn 17$368K$309K$15K$44K
InterestLn 20$28K$28K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$251K$191K$10K$50K
InsuranceLn 23$92K$83K$4K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$644K$362K$150K$132K
Total functional expensesLn 25$7.4M$5.6M$935K$889K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $12.5M$7.4M$5.1M$26.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $19.3M$6.0M$13.3M$21.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.0M$4.0M$2.0M$15.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.7M$2.9M$3.8M$11.4M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.7M$2.9M$751K$7.6M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.6M$2.0M$546K$6.8M 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 $12,543,920 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,763,453$11,391,174
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $575,465$983,569
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $135,495$101,392
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$197,832$67,785
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $19,276,581$12,543,920
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 $3,059,994$3,750,890
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$23,075
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,922,049$3,632,276
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,982,043$7,406,241
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $13,294,538$5,137,679
Part VI · Governance 18 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members18
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 $12,543,920 across 11 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for −$25,207 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,351,548
VIII-1e Government grants$900,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$9,139,626
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$193,163
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,391,174
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $983,569$983,569
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $101,392$101,392
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $84,212$84,212
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$3,623−$3,623
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $12,403$12,403
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $970,765 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $181,981$12,543,920
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $7,406,241 across 19 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $266,744 · Management $12,700 · Fundraising $38,106$317,550
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,541,520 · Management $121,026 · Fundraising $363,075$3,025,621
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $12,717 · Management $606 · Fundraising $1,817$15,140
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $118,803 · Management $5,657 · Fundraising $16,971$141,431
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $210,964 · Management $10,046 · Fundraising $30,138$251,148
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,329$3,329
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $128,645$128,645
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $23,075$23,075
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $26,190$26,190
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $44,517 · Management $245,606$290,123
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $110,817 · Management $110,817 · Fundraising $4,490$226,124
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $585,564 · Management $27,884 · Fundraising $83,652$697,100
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $6,664 · Management $952 · Fundraising $317$7,933
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $738,731 · Management $34,764 · Fundraising $95,600$869,095
IX-17 TravelPrograms $308,733 · Management $14,701 · Fundraising $44,105$367,539
IX-20 InterestManagement $28,474$28,474
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $190,970 · Management $10,051 · Fundraising $50,255$251,276
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $83,183 · Management $3,697 · Fundraising $5,546$92,426
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $361,682 · Management $150,098 · Fundraising $132,242$644,022
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $5,581,609 · Management $935,243 · Fundraising $889,389$7,406,241
Part X · Balance sheet $29,010,177 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,520,775$1,733,952
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $646,639$429,726
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,614,845$5,580,697
X-4 Accounts receivable$212,667
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $44,833$21,254
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $8,208,954$8,198,627
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $4,953,059$6,452,334
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $6,620,000$6,380,920
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $24,609,105$29,010,177
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $168,945$578,144
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,930,393$2,292,167
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,599,338$2,870,311
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $9,003,252$8,260,563
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $12,006,515$17,879,303
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $21,009,767$26,139,866
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $24,609,105$29,010,177
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $26,139,866 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,543,920
XI-2 Total expenses$7,406,241
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$5,137,679
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$21,009,767
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$200,873
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$208,453
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$26,139,866

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

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