The Academy Group

Tax-deductible

Chicago, IL501(c)(3)Since 2019EducationEIN 84-1737086Revenue $11.5M in FY2024

On file with the IRStheacademygroup.com900 N North Branch St Ste 2, 60642-4288 · Chicago, ILTax-exempt since Jul 2019Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Fueled by the belief that talent is ubiquitous, the Academy Group unlocks opportunity for young people from the nation's most resilient communities to realize their full potential as economic, educational, and social change agents.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 4 volunteers and 66 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $319K a year · 6% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.6M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 66% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.3 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $103K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$596K
97% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 97% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$11.5M
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$12.8M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$16K
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$11.5M
FY2024▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$215K
FY2022$6.5M
FY2023$4.2M
FY2024$10.6M
FY2024$11.5M
Expenses
$12.8M
FY2024▲ +38%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1K
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$6.8M
FY2024$9.2M
FY2024$12.8M
Net assets
$16K
FY2024▼ -99%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$218K
FY2022$2.6M
FY2023$10K
FY2024$1.3M
FY2024$16K

From the FY2024 Form 990 · 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Jul 2019.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $9.5M Management & general 22% · $2.8M Fundraising 4% · $488K

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

13 people listed on the 990; $1.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO - Chicago Academy
$303,745Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer
$247,813Pt VII · Sec A
CEO - Amplify
$237,683Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Human Resources Officer
$202,209Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director of Partnerships
$135,142Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Strategy
$123,930Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Alumni
$116,791Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director, Amplify Chicago
$115,128Pt VII · Sec A

Dr Greg Jones’s $304K as CEO - Chicago Academy is at the 66th 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022
Dr Greg Jones$303,745$289,521$255,387$113,520
Iman Lindsay$247,813———
Ted Christians$237,683$222,930$196,674$86,905
Latonia Arnold$202,209$187,058——
Carmen Echevarria—$167,819——
Rodney Bly$135,142$130,074$117,220—
Lindsey Schmitz$123,930$117,941$104,987—
Zabrina Emilia Casanova—$119,220$102,112—

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.

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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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Empowers young people from resilient communities to achieve their full potential.

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2 programs · $9.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

The academy group (academy) works with families from across regions: boston, chicago, detroit, and los angeles. Ninety-five percent of the students the organization serves are black and brown and the organization will continue to expand our reach to support young people from resilient communities.

$7.8Mprogram expense
02

The amplify chicago (amplify) program is a wealth-building pathway integrating career, leadership, and entrepreneurship for 21 to 30- year-old young men and women from the most resilient communities that have been disproportionately impacted by violence, criminalization, economic disruption, and educational DISINVESTMENT.AMPLIFY'S…

$1.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
RedfFY2024$20K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$103K
Grants paid · 8 grants · $4.3M · 2021–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,299,889
Unitemized GrantFY2024$156,445
Unitemized GrantFY2023$997,617
Unitemized GrantFY2023$95,061
Unitemized GrantFY2022$797,069
Unitemized GrantFY2022$154,905
Unitemized GrantFY2021$674,804
Unitemized GrantFY2021$77,843

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$11.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Money outPt IX
$12.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$9.5M
Managementcol C$2.8M
Fundraisingcol D$488K
Owns and owesPt X
$16K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$342K
Total assetsLn 16$613K
LiabilitiesLn 26$596K
PeoplePt VI, VII
13
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$11.5M
Other incomeLn 4–11$4K
Total revenueLn 12$11.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$342K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$342K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$5K
Other assetsLn 15$42K
Total assetsLn 16$613K
LiabilitiesLn 26$596K
Net assetsLn 32$16K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 566
VolunteersI 64
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.4M$342K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$19K$5K
Total assetsLn 16$1.8M$613K
LiabilitiesLn 26$495K$596K
Net assetsLn 32$1.3M$16K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.5M$1.5M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.2M$649K$555K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$3.1M$2.4M$471K$225K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$98K$74K$16K$9K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$496K$480K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$365K$264K$81K$20K
Legal feesLn 11b$16K$16K
Accounting feesLn 11c$128K$128K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.5M$833K$673K$15K
Office expensesLn 13$323K$141K$140K$42K
Information technologyLn 14$131K$3K$127K$646
OccupancyLn 16$345K$284K$61K$72
TravelLn 17$1.9M$1.7M$161K
InsuranceLn 23$87K$87K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.6M$1.6M
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.8M$9.5M$2.8M$488K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 $10.6M$9.2M$1.3M$1.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.2M$6.8M−$2.6M$10K 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.5M$4.2M$2.3M$2.6M 990 PDF
FY2021 Not on file
FY2020 $215K$1K$214K$218K 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $11,457,008 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $10,576,285$11,452,907
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,889$4,101
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $10,578,174$11,457,008
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $1,092,678$1,456,334
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,763,964$5,294,051
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,382,574$6,039,504
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,239,216$12,789,889
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,338,958−$1,332,881
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
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 $11,457,008 across 4 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$11,452,907
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$11,452,907
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $0 · Excluded from tax $4,101$4,101
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,101$11,457,008
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $12,789,889 across 15 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,456,334$1,456,334
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $649,276 · Management $555,399$1,204,675
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,434,826 · Management $470,791 · Fundraising $224,955$3,130,572
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $73,547 · Management $15,622 · Fundraising $8,759$97,928
IX-9 Other employee benefitsManagement $480,227 · Fundraising $16,031$496,258
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $263,987 · Management $80,913 · Fundraising $19,718$364,618
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $16,136$16,136
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $127,790$127,790
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $833,341 · Management $673,090 · Fundraising $14,717$1,521,148
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $140,808 · Management $140,197 · Fundraising $41,798$322,803
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,434 · Management $126,890 · Fundraising $646$130,970
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $284,389 · Management $60,975 · Fundraising $72$345,436
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,696,408 · Fundraising $161,471$1,857,879
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $86,963$86,963
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,630,379$1,630,379
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $9,466,729 · Management $2,834,993 · Fundraising $488,167$12,789,889
Part X · Balance sheet $612,585 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,430,047$342,450
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $95,014$111,266
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $270,888$112,140
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $19,168$5,229
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $28,500$41,500
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,843,617$612,585
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $494,556$596,405
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $494,556$596,405
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,189,061$16,180
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $160,000$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,349,061$16,180
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,843,617$612,585
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $16,180 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$11,457,008
XI-2 Total expenses$12,789,889
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,332,881
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,349,061
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$16,180

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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