Spectrum Academy

Claim this org

(tell your story, add context, and more) Claim it free, then get the verified mark for $5,000 a year, plus $10 a year for the ID check.

How does your 990 look to donors? Take the 10-Question Audit

To manage, operate, guide, direct, and promote a public charter school funded by local, state, and federal sources.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 150 volunteers and 666 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $536K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$520K
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
5 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $502K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$40.7M
84% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 84% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 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
$37.5M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$36.8M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$7.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$37.5M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$23.6M
FY2021$27.3M
FY2022$29.7M
FY2023$32.9M
FY2024$36.6M
FY2025$37.5M
Expenses
$36.8M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$23.4M
FY2021$28.5M
FY2022$28.8M
FY2023$31.6M
FY2024$35.3M
FY2025$36.8M
Net assets
$7.5M
FY2025▲ +10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$3.3M
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$5.5M
FY2024$6.8M
FY2025$7.5M

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 Sep 2008.

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

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $32.3M Management & general 12% · $4.6M

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

13 people listed on the 990; $520K 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
Exec Dir - Academics
$145,524Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir - Finance
$137,856Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir - Academics
$133,387Pt VII · Sec A
Exec Dir - Finance
$103,529Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jamie Christensen’s $146K as Exec Dir - Academics is at the 14th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jamie Christensen$145,524$143,284$151,960$156,416$134,330$128,500
Brad Nelson$137,856$151,892$147,351$147,351$134,485$128,500
Elizabeth Banner$133,387$112,094————
Christina Guevera————$112,063—
Courtney England$103,529—————

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 Spectrum Academy executive salaries →

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

Operates and promotes a public charter school funded by government sources.

Questions for Spectrum Academy

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

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

3 programs · $32.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Operation of one public charter school for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

$31.6Mprogram expense
02

Operation of a food services program for the convenience of the students and faculty.

$712Kprogram expense
03

Operation of a day care and preschool services.

$2Kprogram 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
See all 6 funders →

Federal money

Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $1.6M federal money spent
Medical Assistance ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.778 · Through Utah Dept of Health and Human Services$626K
Special Education Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Utah State Board of Education$277K
Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.126 · Through Utah Dept of Workforce Services$204K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Utah State Board of Education$202K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Utah State Board of Education$142K

Plus 3 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2024 · $2.0M federal money spent
Medical Assistance ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.778 · Through Utah Dept of Health and Human Services$931K
Special Education Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Utah State Board of Education$277K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Utah State Board of Education$261K
Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.126 · Through Utah Dept of Workforce Services$198K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Utah State Board of Education$163K

Plus 6 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2023 · $1.9M federal money spent
Medical Assistance ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.778 · Through Utah Dept of Health and Human Services$850K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Utah State Board of Education$301K
Education Stabilization FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Utah State Board of Education$271K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Utah State Board of Education$248K
Title I Grants to Local Educational AgenciesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.010 · Through Utah State Board of Education$162K

Plus 5 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

Year ending Jun 2022 · $3.0M federal money spent
Education Stabilization Fund - Governor's Emergency Education Relief FundDepartment of Education · ALN 84.425 · Through Utah State Board of Education$801K
Medical Assistance ProgramDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.778 · Through Utah Dept of Health and Human Services$668K
National School Lunch ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.555 · Through Utah State Board of Education$632K
Special Education_grants to StatesDepartment of Education · ALN 84.027 · Through Utah State Board of Education$291K
School Breakfast ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.553 · Through Utah State Borard of Education$224K

Plus 8 smaller programs.

The auditor reported no findings.

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$37.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$521K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$194K
Money outPt IX
$36.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$32.3M
Managementcol C$4.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$7.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$14.3M
Total assetsLn 16$48.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$40.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$36.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$36.1M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$29K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$194K
Investment incomeLn 3$521K
Other incomeLn 4–11$96K
Total revenueLn 12$37.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$3.3M
SavingsLn 2$11.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$14.3M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$285K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$4K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$33.5M
Other assetsLn 15$179K
Total assetsLn 16$48.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$40.7M
Net assetsLn 32$7.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5666
VolunteersI 6150
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
BondsSch K, Pt X
Tax-exempt bond debt owedX 20$32.1M
Bond issues listedSch K Pt I2
Raised by those issuesSch K Pt I$34.6M
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$29K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$13.0M$14.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$34.5M$33.5M
Total assetsLn 16$48.3M$48.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$41.5M$40.7M
Net assetsLn 32$6.8M$7.5M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$375K$375K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$25.0M$22.7M$2.3M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$752K$752K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.3M$1.7M$574K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.8M$1.8M
Accounting feesLn 11c$39K$39K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$793K$150K$644K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$12K$12K
Office expensesLn 13$14K$14K
Information technologyLn 14$272K$272K
OccupancyLn 16$668K$551K$116K
TravelLn 17$72K$72K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$176K$176K
InterestLn 20$1.3M$1.1M$158K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1.2M$1.1M$63K
InsuranceLn 23$72K$72K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.9M$1.6M$295K
All other expensesLn 24e$135K$135K
Total functional expensesLn 25$36.8M$32.3M$4.6M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Oct 27, 2025 $37.5M$36.8M$683K$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Feb 4, 2025 $36.6M$35.3M$1.3M$6.8M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Feb 29, 2024 $32.9M$31.6M$1.2M$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Mar 8, 2023 $29.7M$28.8M$962K$4.2M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Dec 22, 2021 $27.3M$28.5M−$1.2M$3.3M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jan 28, 2021 $23.6M$23.4M$190K$4.7M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $37,530,113 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $35,518,173$36,719,659
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $336,449$194,237
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $740,001$520,513
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $35,696$95,704
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $36,630,319$37,530,113
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 $28,882,932$30,288,251
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $6,430,939$6,559,164
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $35,313,871$36,847,415
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,316,448$682,698
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $37,530,113 across 9 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$36,136,465
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$583,194
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$29,000
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$36,719,659
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $194,237$194,237
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $520,513$520,513
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $17,772$17,772
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $77,932$77,932
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $272,169 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $538,285$37,530,113
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $36,847,415 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $374,772$374,772
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $22,719,657 · Management $2,310,987$25,030,644
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $751,678$751,678
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,734,128 · Management $574,173$2,308,301
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,822,856$1,822,856
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $39,108$39,108
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $149,565 · Management $643,695$793,260
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $11,507$11,507
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $13,942$13,942
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $271,949$271,949
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $551,450 · Management $116,163$667,613
IX-17 TravelPrograms $71,608$71,608
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $176,047$176,047
IX-20 InterestPrograms $1,113,843 · Management $157,857$1,271,700
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $1,106,577 · Management $62,825$1,169,402
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $71,865$71,865
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,571,280 · Management $295,327$1,866,607
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $134,556$134,556
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $32,272,508 · Management $4,574,907 · Fundraising $0$36,847,415
Part X · Balance sheet $48,198,291 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $2,749,159$3,264,863
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $10,262,766$10,994,915
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $434,459$285,443
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $89,625$3,599
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $34,519,536$33,470,704
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $185,341$178,767
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $48,256,762$48,198,291
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $3,839,460$4,033,713
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $32,785,000$32,090,000
X-23 Secured mortgages and notes payableStart of year $1,351,585$1,261,982
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $3,488,919$3,338,100
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $41,464,964$40,723,795
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,791,798$7,474,496
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $6,791,798$7,474,496
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $48,256,762$48,198,291
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $7,474,496 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$37,530,113
XI-2 Total expenses$36,847,415
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$682,698
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$6,791,798
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$7,474,496

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.

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.