The organizations mission is to provide an education designed to foster creativity, independence and ingenuity by providing a child-centric learning environment, hands-on activities, and interation with the community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
100¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$45K 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

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 3
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $15K a year · 7% of revenue · last 3 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
100%
of spending
Looks good: 100% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$45K
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
1 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.4 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $204
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$20K
70% of total assets
Worth a look: liabilities are 70% of assets; over 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 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
$184K
-6% vs prior year
Spent
$244K
To programs
100%
Net assets
$8K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$184K
FY2025▼ -6%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$117K
FY2021$87K
FY2023$232K
FY2024$196K
FY2025$184K
Expenses
$244K
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020Not on file
FY2021Not on file
FY2023$194K
FY2024$219K
FY2025$244K
Net assets
$8K
FY2025▼ -88%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$203
FY2021$12K
FY2023$92K
FY2024$69K
FY2025$8K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending July 2025) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Feb 2017.

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

Where the money goes

100 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 100% · $244K Fundraising 0% · $115

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; $45K 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
Executive Di
$44,862Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Laura M Roberts’s $45K as Executive Di is at the 35th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1613 $100K–1M 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023
Laura M Roberts$44,862——
Laura Roberts—$42,806$35,782

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 Bluestem Montessori Elementary School 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

Fosters creativity and independence through child-centered learning and hands-on community activities.

Questions for Bluestem Montessori Elementary School

Tap to ask. Bluestem Montessori Elementary School sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Bluestem Montessori Elementary School answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $244K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Provide a child-centric education and learning environment for pre-school through 6TH grade children.

$244Kprogram 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$204

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$184K
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$175K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9K
Money outPt IX
$244K
Ln 25
Programscol B$244K
Fundraisingcol D$115
Owns and owesPt X
$8K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$28K
Total assetsLn 16$28K
LiabilitiesLn 26$20K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$175K
Total revenueLn 12$184K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$28K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$28K
Other assetsLn 15$400
Total assetsLn 16$28K
LiabilitiesLn 26$20K
Net assetsLn 32$8K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 59
Fiscal year endsHeaderJuly
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$78K$28K
Total assetsLn 16$87K$28K
LiabilitiesLn 26$19K$20K
Net assetsLn 32$69K$8K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$45K$45K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$110K$110K
Payroll taxesLn 10$12K$12K
Legal feesLn 11b$765$765
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$115$115
Advertising and promotionLn 12$1K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$7K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$30K$30K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$33K$33K
All other expensesLn 24e$301$301
Total functional expensesLn 25$244K$244K$0$115

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $184K$244K−$60K$8K 990 PDF
FY2024 $196K$219K−$23K$69K 990 PDF
FY2023 $232K$194K$38K$92K 990 PDF
FY2022 Not on file
FY2021 $87K$12K 990 PDF
FY2020 $117K−$203 990 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 $183,841 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,999$8,908
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $177,224$174,933
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $196,223$183,841
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $141,046$166,748
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$115
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $78,356$77,266
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $219,402$244,129
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$23,179−$60,288
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
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 $183,841 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$8,908
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$8,908
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $174,933$174,933
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $174,933$183,841
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $244,129 across 11 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $44,862$44,862
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $110,289$110,289
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $11,597$11,597
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $765$765
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $115$115
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,351$1,351
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,971$6,971
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $29,841$29,841
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $5,487$5,487
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $32,550$32,550
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $301$301
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $244,014 · Management $0 · Fundraising $115$244,129
Part X · Balance sheet $28,119 assets, 9 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $77,927$27,719
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $400$400
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $87,331$28,119
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,544$3,620
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $16,180$16,180
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $18,724$19,800
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $68,607$8,319
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $68,607$8,319
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $87,331$28,119
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $8,319 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$183,841
XI-2 Total expenses$244,129
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$60,288
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$68,607
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$8,319

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.