Watershed School INC FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Boulder, CO501(c)(3)EducationEIN 84-1600705

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The mission of Watershed School is to spark adventure and wonder, foster inquiry and community, and build the character and ability of students to take on the world's greatest challenges.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$183K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

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FY2021 · 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
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.2M a year · 24% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$183K
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
Cash reserves
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 5.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $448K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
41% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 41% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 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
Spent
$2.9M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$4.4M
FY2021
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$4.4M
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$5.9M
FY2024$6.0M
FY2025$4.9M
Expenses
$2.9M
FY2021
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$3.6M
FY2024$4.1M
FY2025$5.2M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2021
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$2.4M
FY2022$3.1M
FY2023$5.4M
FY2024$7.2M
FY2025$6.7M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Jun 2002.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $2.2M Management & general 20% · $569K Fundraising 5% · $135K

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

15 people listed on the 990; $183K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Head of School
$182,629Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Timothy Breen’s $219K as Head of Scho is at the 86th 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Timothy Breen$218,644$206,022$211,661$190,972$182,629
Gray Bridgers$120,629————

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 Watershed School INC 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 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires adventure and wonder, fostering inquiry, community, and student ability to tackle global challenges.

Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.2M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

In the 2020-2021 school year, Watershed School provided an innovative, challenging, college preparatory education to 100 students in grades 6-12. Our students develop as curious learners, adventurous spirits, and caring, committed global citizens as they engage in work that matters -- work that has a positive impact beyond the walls of…

$2.2Mprogram 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 9 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Other incomeLn 4–11$284K
Money outPt IX
$2.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.2M
Managementcol C$569K
Fundraisingcol D$135K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
15
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.4M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Other incomeLn 4–11$284K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$4.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$583K
SavingsLn 2$813K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$163K
Other assetsLn 15$10K
Total assetsLn 16$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 546
VolunteersI 630
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 FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$1.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$61K$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$190K$163K
Total assetsLn 16$2.2M$4.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$856K$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$315K$315K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$0
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$183K$46K$91K$46K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.0M$224K$63K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$58K$41K$12K$5K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$102K$98K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$115K$85K$25K$5K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$29K$29K
Accounting feesLn 11c$9K$9K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$34K$34K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$30K$30K
Office expensesLn 13$20K$3K$17K
Information technologyLn 14$21K$21K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$239K$239K
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$309$309
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$61K$61K
InsuranceLn 23$61K$13K$48K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$247K$219K$11K$16K
All other expensesLn 24e$12K$12K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.9M$2.2M$569K$135K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $4.9M$5.2M−$389K$6.7M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.0M$4.1M$1.8M$7.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.9M$3.6M$2.3M$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.2M$3.5M$785K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $4.4M$2.9M$1.6M$2.4M 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 FY2021 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,441,881 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,423,629
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,423,629
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,732,061$2,732,061
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,437$2,437
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $35,877 · Excluded from tax $247,877$283,754
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,767,938 · Excluded from tax $250,314$4,441,881
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,862,508 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $315,241$315,241
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipients$0
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $45,657 · Management $91,315 · Fundraising $45,657$182,629
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,038,392 · Management $224,430 · Fundraising $63,283$1,326,105
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $40,721 · Management $12,278 · Fundraising $4,799$57,798
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $97,955 · Management $4,303$102,258
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $85,335 · Management $24,755 · Fundraising $4,799$114,889
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $29,147$29,147
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $9,300$9,300
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $33,662$33,662
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $29,782$29,782
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $3,322 · Management $17,150$20,472
IX-14 Information technologyManagement $21,384$21,384
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $238,791$238,791
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $309$309
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $61,182$61,182
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $13,088 · Management $47,819$60,907
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $219,373 · Management $10,996 · Fundraising $16,354$246,723
IX-24e All other expensesManagement $11,929$11,929
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,159,057 · Management $568,559 · Fundraising $134,892$2,862,508
Part X · Balance sheet $4,147,456 assets, 20 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $138,812$583,248
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,710,106$812,867
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$1,000,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,382$59,340
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $62,873$20,922
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $190,028$162,895
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $61,274$1,498,077
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $10,107$10,107
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,176,582$4,147,456
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $17,851$56,428
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,054,922$1,655,723
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,320,650$1,712,151
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $769,366$1,301,805
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $86,566$1,133,500
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $855,932$2,435,305
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,176,582$4,147,456
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,435,305 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,441,881
XI-2 Total expenses$2,862,508
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,579,373
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$855,932
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,435,305

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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