philanthropy.org | 990 Resource | FAQ Verify yourself
Sign in

Modern Classrooms Project INC FY2020 filing

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 2018Foundations & Grantmakers EIN 82-5421304Revenue $1.2M in FY2020

On file with the IRSmodernclassrooms.org15 14th St Se, 20003-1512 · Washington, DCTax-exempt since Nov 2018Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

Claim this org

(tell your story, add context, and more)

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

The Modern Classrooms Project empowers educators to redesign their Classrooms to support each student's learning. In 2020, we offered in- person workshops and interactive online courses that help teachers implement our core, research-based practices: blended instruction: teachers create high-quality instructional videos to replace in-class lectures. This allows students to learn at their own paces and frees up teachers to provide targeted individual and small-group support in class. Self-paced structures: teachers design self-paced classroom structures, which allow students to control their own learning while meeting essential learning objectives and deadlines. We focus in particular on strategies that teachers can use to motivate students and foster authentic student- student collaboration. Mastery-based grading: teachers build mastery-based assessments, which give students credit only when they've demonstrated full understanding of content and skills. In particular, we help teachers

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$132K 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

FY2020 · 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 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.7M a year · 23% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 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
$132K
to officers and key staff · 21% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 21% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
18 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 17.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $150K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$88K
8% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 8% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.2M
Spent
$630K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$963K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$3.1M
FY2022$7.8M
FY2024$12.4M
FY2025$13.8M
Expenses
$630K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$630K
FY2021$2.1M
FY2022$4.6M
FY2024$10.9M
FY2025$11.3M
Net assets
$963K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$963K
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$5.0M
FY2024$7.5M
FY2025$10.0M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2018.

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% · $554K Management & general 7% · $45K Fundraising 5% · $32K

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

17 people listed on the 990; $132K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Kareem Farah
Executive Di
$75,000Pt VII · Sec A
$57,200Pt VII · Sec A
Muna Shami
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Rod Nazemi
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Shawna Dix
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kareem Farah - Chief’s $272K as Executive of is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 661 $10–100M philanthropy & grantmaking 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2022FY2021FY2020
Kareem Farah - Chief$271,581$205,656$205,656$141,929—
Robert Barnett - Chief$232,891$202,032——$57,200
Aubrey White - President and$232,689————
Aubrey White - Chief—$210,513———
Robert Barnett——$202,032$108,979—
Lary Whitten - Head of National$186,109————
James Edmond JR - Vice President of$158,995————
Annie Cole - Vice President of—$149,252———

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 Modern Classrooms Project INC 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers educators to redesign classrooms for student-centered learning through blended instruction and self-paced structures.

Questions for Modern Classrooms Project INC

Tap to ask. Modern Classrooms Project INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Modern Classrooms Project INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $512K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Virtual Mentorship Program

This is our flagship program. Educators from around the world enroll in an online course, through which they work hand- in-hand with one of our expert educators to design blended, self-paced, mastery-based instructional materials of their own.

$278Kprogram expense
02

Modern Classroom Fellowship

This program, which ran for the final time in 2020, is a one-year fellowship program that equips and empowers educators in the washington, DC area to redesign their classrooms. We give fellows one week of intensive summer training, then support these fellows throughout the school year with individualized coaching and feedback.

$229Kprogram expense
03

In-Person Teacher Training

Upon request, we travel to interested schools and districts to provide on-site professional development to educators in those SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS. These workshops are fully customizable to meet the needs of each school partner. In 2020, we gave workshops in new york, north carolina, pennsylvania, and the district of columbia

$5Kprogram 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
James Milton and Sallie R JohnsonfoundationFY2025$75K
Gates Family FoundationFY2025$75K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$150K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$925K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$238K
Other incomeLn 4–11$726
Money outPt IX
$630K
Ln 25
Programscol B$554K
Managementcol C$45K
Fundraisingcol D$32K
Owns and owesPt X
$963K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$920K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$88K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$925K
Government grantsLn 1e$8K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$238K
Other incomeLn 4–11$726
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$920K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$920K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$88K
Net assetsLn 32$963K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 615
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$194K$920K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23K$15K
Total assetsLn 16$435K$1.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$5K$88K
Net assetsLn 32$430K$963K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$138K$115K$11K$12K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$77K$77K$56$37
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$5K$5K$67$396
Payroll taxesLn 10$17K$15K$840$923
Management feesLn 11a$18K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$30K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$15K$15K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$244K$244K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$11K$11K$554
Office expensesLn 13$13K$3K$8K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$44K$40K$4K
TravelLn 17$1K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$9K$9K$100
InsuranceLn 23$824$824
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$7K$34K−$28K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$630K$554K$45K$32K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $13.8M$11.3M$2.5M$10.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $12.4M$10.9M$1.6M$7.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 Not on file
FY2022 $7.8M$4.6M$3.1M$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.1M$2.1M$918K$1.9M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $1.2M$630K$533K$963K 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 FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,163,712 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $446,776$925,408
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $25,290$237,578
I-10 Investment income$0
I-11 Other revenue$726
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $472,066$1,163,712
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $37,942$237,026
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$15,000
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $80,664$378,469
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $118,606$630,495
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $353,460$533,217
Part VI · Governance 14 of 16 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members14
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $1,163,712 across 5 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $726 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$7,859
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$917,549
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$925,408
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $237,578$237,578
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $237,578 · Excluded from tax $726$1,163,712
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $630,495 across 15 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $114,839 · Management $10,973 · Fundraising $11,688$137,500
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $76,997 · Management $56 · Fundraising $37$77,090
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $4,757 · Management $67 · Fundraising $396$5,220
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,453 · Management $840 · Fundraising $923$17,216
IX-11a Management feesManagement $17,937$17,937
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $30,125$30,125
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $15,000$15,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $243,765$243,765
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $10,657 · Management $554$11,211
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,046 · Management $7,542 · Fundraising $2,260$12,848
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $40,039 · Management $3,760$43,799
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,439$1,439
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $9,367 · Management $100$9,467
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $824$824
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $33,840 · Management −$28,203 · Fundraising $1,417$7,054
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $554,199 · Management $44,575 · Fundraising $31,721$630,495
Part X · Balance sheet $1,050,664 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $194,049$919,897
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $181,534$107,850
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $295$3,447
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $34,416$2,913
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $23,349$15,290
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $1,366$1,267
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $435,009$1,050,664
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $4,020$43,432
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,200$44,226
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,220$87,658
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $352,988$960,506
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $76,801$2,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $429,789$963,006
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $435,009$1,050,664
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $963,006 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,163,712
XI-2 Total expenses$630,495
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$533,217
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$429,789
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$963,006

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 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.