To develop students into leaders through a community that fosters their agency, autonomy, and acceleration - providing a foundation for future independence and success.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 12 volunteers and 25 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
3 of 3
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $566K a year · 30% of revenue · last 3 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 3 of the last 3 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 3 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$211K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2.5M
63% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 63% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 10 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 10 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.4M
+333% vs prior year
Spent
$3.3M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$1.5M
By yearFY2023–FY2025
Revenue
$4.4M
FY2025▲ +333%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2023$250K
FY2024$1.0M
FY2025$4.4M
Expenses
$3.3M
FY2025▲ +391%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2023$0
FY2024$663K
FY2025$3.3M
Net assets
$1.5M
FY2025▲ +282%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2023$250K
FY2024$387K
FY2025$1.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 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 Apr 2023.

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

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $2.3M Management & general 23% · $766K Fundraising 6% · $209K

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

14 people listed on the 990; $211K 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
$110,666Pt VII · Sec A
Principal Resident
$100,188Pt VII · Sec A
Finance Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Governance Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Academic Excellence Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Tambra Pendleton’s $111K as Principal is at the 39th 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.

See Believe Schools executive salaries →

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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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Provides free college and career prep for high school students.

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Your first name shows with your question. Believe Schools answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Believe schools is a public college and career preparatory high school dedicated to the achievement of students in the ST. Louis area. The school will ensure all students graduate with an associate's degree or a career certification in a high-demand, skilled career alongside their high school diploma.

$2.3Mprogram expense

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$22K
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Money outPt IX
$3.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$766K
Fundraisingcol D$209K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$488K
Total assetsLn 16$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$22K
Other incomeLn 4–11$9K
Total revenueLn 12$4.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$25K
SavingsLn 2$463K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$488K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.4M
Other assetsLn 15$14K
Total assetsLn 16$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.5M
Net assetsLn 32$1.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 525
VolunteersI 612
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$238K$488K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$187K$3.4M
Total assetsLn 16$439K$4.0M
LiabilitiesLn 26$52K$2.5M
Net assetsLn 32$387K$1.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$117K$88K$29K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$861K$755K$95K$12K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$115K$99K$14K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$91K$79K$11K$1K
Payroll taxesLn 10$67K$58K$8K$806
Management feesLn 11a$291K$262K$29K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$71K$71K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$153K$153K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$222K$140K$82K$375
Advertising and promotionLn 12$105K$90K$13K$1K
Office expensesLn 13$271K$210K$59K$1K
Information technologyLn 14$176K$162K$13K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$194K$167K$24K$2K
TravelLn 17$68K$60K$8K$747
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$30K$26K$4K$355
InterestLn 20$49K$49K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$63K$44K$15K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$58K$50K$7K$691
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$256K$256K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.3M$2.3M$766K$209K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.4M$3.3M$1.1M$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.0M$663K$344K$387K 990 PDF
FY2023 $250K$0$250K$250K 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 $4,362,819 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,006,821$4,331,764
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $47$22,474
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$8,581
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,006,868$4,362,819
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 $297,505$1,251,154
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $23,690$152,740
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $342,143$1,855,303
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $663,338$3,259,197
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $343,530$1,103,622
Part VI · Governance 10 of 10 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,362,819 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$2,492,864
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,838,900
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,331,764
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $22,474$22,474
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $8,581$8,581
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $31,055$4,362,819
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,259,197 across 20 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $87,563 · Management $29,187$116,750
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $755,041 · Management $94,538 · Fundraising $11,626$861,205
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $99,166 · Management $13,931 · Fundraising $1,415$114,512
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $78,939 · Management $11,194 · Fundraising $1,119$91,252
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $58,148 · Management $8,481 · Fundraising $806$67,435
IX-11a Management feesManagement $261,832 · Fundraising $29,092$290,924
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $2,175$2,175
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $71,024$71,024
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $152,740$152,740
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $139,650 · Management $81,614 · Fundraising $375$221,639
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $90,473 · Management $13,194 · Fundraising $1,255$104,922
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $210,397 · Management $59,066 · Fundraising $1,424$270,887
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $161,888 · Management $12,530 · Fundraising $1,192$175,610
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $167,160 · Management $24,381 · Fundraising $2,319$193,860
IX-17 TravelPrograms $59,622 · Management $7,860 · Fundraising $747$68,229
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $25,874 · Management $3,771 · Fundraising $355$30,000
IX-20 InterestManagement $49,217$49,217
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $44,113 · Management $14,535 · Fundraising $4,040$62,688
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $49,859 · Management $7,272 · Fundraising $691$57,822
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $256,306$256,306
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,284,199 · Management $765,802 · Fundraising $209,196$3,259,197
Part X · Balance sheet $4,013,094 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $47,875$25,000
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $190,015$463,223
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$99,874
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $187,308$3,411,122
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $13,875$13,875
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $439,073$4,013,094
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $44,299$78,686
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $7,462$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $51,761$2,533,216
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $387,312$1,479,878
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $387,312$1,479,878
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $439,073$4,013,094
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,479,878 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,362,819
XI-2 Total expenses$3,259,197
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,103,622
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$387,312
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$11,056
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,479,878

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

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