To ignite the passion of all young people to become innovators and entrepreneurial leaders who will change the world. Venture seeks to enable young people to achieve unprecedented learning growth, demonstrate character and leadership and learn to imagine opportunities, take initiative and create solutions.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
79¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 10 volunteers and 87 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
1 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $189K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
79%
of spending
Looks good: 79% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$134K
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.1 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $45K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$5.9M
178% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 178% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$8.6M
-6% vs prior year
Spent
$9.2M
To programs
79%
Net assets
−$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$8.6M
FY2025▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$6.9M
FY2021$7.0M
FY2022$8.7M
FY2023$8.7M
FY2024$9.2M
FY2025$8.6M
Expenses
$9.2M
FY2025▼ -4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$7.3M
FY2021$7.4M
FY2022$7.8M
FY2023$8.8M
FY2024$9.6M
FY2025$9.2M
Net assets
−$2.6M
FY2025▼ -41%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$1.7M
FY2021−$2.2M
FY2022−$1.3M
FY2023−$1.4M
FY2024−$1.8M
FY2025−$2.6M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2013.

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

Where the money goes

79 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 79% · $7.3M Management & general 21% · $1.9M

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

6 people listed on the 990; $134K 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
Vice-Chair/Acting Chairper
$72,443Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$62,026Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Andrew Lawton’s $72K as Vice-Chair/Acting Chairper is at the 15th 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 · 6 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Michael Warner———$110,313——
Andrew Lawton$72,443$69,032$68,118$79,070$72,294$70,572
Charles Ellsworth——$68,565$78,504$74,968$64,815
Kristen Robinson——$66,108———
Dior Ford$62,026—————
Jace Carlson—————$19,850

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 Venture Academies 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

Ignites young people's passion to become world-changing innovators and entrepreneurial leaders.

Questions for Venture Academies

Tap to ask. Venture Academies sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Venture Academies answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $7.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The school educated students with a combined purpose of growing the entrepreneurial spirit while aspiring to reach individual goals and state educational standards.

$7.3Mprogram 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 · FY2022
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$45K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$8.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$8.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Investment incomeLn 3$342
Money outPt IX
$9.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$7.3M
Managementcol C$1.9M
Owns and owesPt X
−$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$825K
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$8.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$8.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$145K
Investment incomeLn 3$342
Gains on assetsLn 7$342
Total revenueLn 12$8.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$825K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$825K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$309K
Other assetsLn 15$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5.9M
Net assetsLn 32−$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 587
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$690K$825K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$578K$309K
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M$3.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$6.5M$5.9M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.8M−$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$222K$101K$121K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.1M$3.9M$206K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$467K$460K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$498K$481K$17K
Payroll taxesLn 10$312K$308K$4K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$103K$103K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$362K$271K$90K
Office expensesLn 13$35K$35K
Information technologyLn 14$122K$91K$31K
OccupancyLn 16$898K$50K$849K
TravelLn 17$1.2M$1.2M
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$14K$11K$3K
InterestLn 20$39K$39K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$295K$22K$272K
InsuranceLn 23$43K$43K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$449K$383K$67K
All other expensesLn 24e$52K$682$52K
Total functional expensesLn 25$9.2M$7.3M$1.9M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $8.6M$9.2M−$598K−$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.2M$9.6M−$418K−$1.8M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.7M$8.8M−$137K−$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.7M$7.8M$886K−$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $7.0M$7.4M−$418K−$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $6.9M$7.3M−$446K−$1.7M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $8,630,484 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $9,091,085$8,484,647
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $107,995$145,495
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$1,012$342
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $9,198,068$8,630,484
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 $5,960,603$5,566,641
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,655,624$3,661,650
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,616,227$9,228,291
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$418,159−$597,807
Part VI · Governance 4 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members4
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 $8,630,484 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$8,482,668
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,979
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$8,484,647
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $145,495$145,495
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $342$342
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $145,495 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $342$8,630,484
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $9,228,291 across 18 lines filed
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $100,777 · Management $121,026$221,803
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $3,861,592 · Management $206,276$4,067,868
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $460,233 · Management $6,333$466,566
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $481,225 · Management $17,158$498,383
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $307,982 · Management $4,039$312,021
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $5,619$5,619
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $102,830$102,830
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $271,457 · Management $90,370$361,827
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $35,456$35,456
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $91,276 · Management $31,145$122,421
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $49,507 · Management $848,818$898,325
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,243,089$1,243,089
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $11,016 · Management $2,870$13,886
IX-20 InterestManagement $38,831$38,831
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $22,114 · Management $272,439$294,553
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $43,037$43,037
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $382,636 · Management $66,726$449,362
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $682 · Management $51,732$52,414
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $7,283,586 · Management $1,944,705 · Fundraising $0$9,228,291
Part X · Balance sheet $3,287,643 assets, 10 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $689,907$824,695
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $2,009,909$991,173
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $577,786$308,712
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,438,227$1,163,063
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,715,829$3,287,643
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $472,870$573,511
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $5,420,333$4,892,208
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $6,543,203$5,865,719
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$1,827,374−$2,578,076
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,715,829$3,287,643
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$2,578,076 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$8,630,484
XI-2 Total expenses$9,228,291
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$597,807
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$1,827,374
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$152,895
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$2,578,076

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 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.