Vela Education Fund

Tax-deductible

Arlington, VA501(c)(3)Since 2020Foundations & GrantmakersEIN 84-4185046Revenue $18.9M in FY2024

On file with the IRSvelaedfund.org4201 Wilson Blvd Suite 0800, 22203-4492 · Arlington, VATax-exempt since Dec 2020Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Custom Education programs to meet familieslearners' needs, increasing awareness of nontraditional Education, and accelerating adoption by more families and communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$996K 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

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
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $3.6M a year · 25% 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
$996K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 79% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
16 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 15.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $9.8M
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.9M
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 3 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 3 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$18.9M
+2% vs prior year
Spent
$11.5M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$18.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$18.9M
FY2024▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.6M
FY2021$13.2M
FY2022$16.1M
FY2023$18.5M
FY2024$18.9M
Expenses
$11.5M
FY2024▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$3.4M
FY2021$10.0M
FY2022$15.0M
FY2023$13.6M
FY2024$11.5M
Net assets
$18.5M
FY2024▲ +77%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$4.4M
FY2022$5.5M
FY2023$10.4M
FY2024$18.5M

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 Dec 2020.

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% · $10.1M Management & general 9% · $987K Fundraising 3% · $336K

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

12 people listed on the 990; $996K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief of Operations
$367,017Pt VII · Sec A
Director-Brand and Communications
$206,040Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Programs
$170,600Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Product Strategy
$139,388Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Community
$112,997Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member/Exec Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Elizabeth Seling’s $367K as Chief of Operations is at the 79th 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Elizabeth Seling$367,017———
Beth Seling—$341,816$291,850$175,409
Natalie Laraque—$207,386——
Lindsay Kelly$206,040———
Lindsey Kelly—$181,446——
Lauren Grevel$170,600$160,513$118,646—
Shaina Belton$112,997$146,414$128,368—
Ashley Ho$139,388———

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 Vela Education Fund 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

Develops custom education programs and promotes nontraditional learning for families and communities.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $10.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Vela education fund made 500 grants to support the creation or expansion of community-based nontraditional learning models. Vela facilitated community-building, knowledge-sharing, and resource-sharing amongst its community of entrepreneurs and increased awareness of nontraditional education through storytelling, research, and community…

$10.1Mprogram 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
See all 8 funders →
Grants paid · 19 grants · $40.2M · 2020–2024
Individual RecipientFY2024$4,742,250
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,322,500
Individual RecipientFY2023$9,031,084
Unitemized GrantFY2023$1,345,000
Individual RecipientFY2022$10,880,332
Unitemized GrantFY2022$1,792,500
Individual RecipientFY2021$6,041,275
Unitemized GrantFY2021$2,372,500
National Parents Union INCMA · FY2020$700,000
4point0 SchoolsLA · FY2020$465,000
Camelback Ventures INCID · FY2020$445,000
Youth Entrepreneurs INCKS · FY2020$154,500
Teton Science Schools INCWY · FY2020$150,000
Griptape INCNY · FY2020$150,000
Arizona Council for American Private EducationFY2020$100,000
Hls Creative AcademyNY · FY2020$50,000
See all 19 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$18.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$717K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$52K
Money outPt IX
$11.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$10.1M
Managementcol C$987K
Fundraisingcol D$336K
Owns and owesPt X
$18.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.1M
Total assetsLn 16$21.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a3
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$18.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$52K
Investment incomeLn 3$717K
Total revenueLn 12$18.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2K
SavingsLn 2$15.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$15.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$750K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$21.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.9M
Net assetsLn 32$18.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 54
VolunteersI 60
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$12.9M$15.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$250K$750K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$13.5M$21.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.1M$2.9M
Net assetsLn 32$10.4M$18.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$4.8M$4.8M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.3M$1.3M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.3M$1.1M$269K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$55K$44K$11K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$78K$63K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$90K$72K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$13K$13K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.5M$1.5M$616K$336K
Office expensesLn 13$71K$63K$8K
OccupancyLn 16$35K$6K$30K
TravelLn 17$80K$80K$43
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1.0M$1.0M$720
InsuranceLn 23$8K$8K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$22K$22K$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$11.5M$10.1M$987K$336K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $18.9M$11.5M$7.5M$18.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $18.5M$13.6M$4.9M$10.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $16.1M$15.0M$1.1M$5.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $13.2M$10.0M$3.3M$4.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.6M$3.4M$1.2M$1.2M 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 $18,940,669 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $18,052,745$18,171,446
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$52,395
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $465,263$716,828
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $18,518,008$18,940,669
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $10,706,082$6,162,250
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,629,749$1,566,730
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,253,171$3,721,220
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $13,589,002$11,450,200
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,929,006$7,490,469
Part VI · Governance 3 of 3 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body3
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $18,940,669 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$18,171,446
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$18,171,446
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $52,395$52,395
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $716,828$716,828
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $52,395 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $716,828$18,940,669
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,450,200 across 15 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $4,839,750$4,839,750
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,322,500$1,322,500
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,075,078 · Management $268,769$1,343,847
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $43,701 · Management $10,925$54,626
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $62,682 · Management $15,670$78,352
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $71,924 · Management $17,981$89,905
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $12,548$12,548
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $1,525,122 · Management $615,683 · Fundraising $335,749$2,476,554
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $63,477 · Management $7,801$71,278
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $5,864 · Management $29,583$35,447
IX-17 TravelPrograms $79,708 · Management $43$79,751
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,015,123 · Management $720$1,015,843
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $7,674$7,674
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $22,125 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$22,125
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $10,127,054 · Management $987,397 · Fundraising $335,749$11,450,200
Part X · Balance sheet $21,403,298 assets, 16 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $115,406; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$2,005
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $12,905,591$15,116,173
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $300,000$5,316,885
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $65,224$102,829
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $250,000$750,000
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,520,815$21,403,298
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $457,952$863,806
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $2,625,088$2,084,250
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,083,040$2,948,056
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $8,708,655$10,914,487
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,729,120$7,540,755
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,437,775$18,455,242
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,520,815$21,403,298
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $18,455,242 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$18,940,669
XI-2 Total expenses$11,450,200
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$7,490,469
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,437,775
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$4,263
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$522,735
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$18,455,242

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

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