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The Nova School Association

Tax-deductible

Olympia, WA501(c)(3)Education EIN 91-1554519Revenue $2.4M in FY2025

On file with the IRSnovaschool.org2020 22nd Ave Se, 98501-3102 · Olympia, WATax-exempt since Oct 1992School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Nova's vision is inspiring lifelong learning for a more compassionate, engaged world by providing an educational program for highly capable students in grades 6-8, moreover, Nova fosters the joyful pursuit of intellectual, social, and emotional expansion through a challenging curriculum that nourishes highly capable middle School students in developing identity, self-empowerment, and community. The program is delivered through a full-time program.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 15 volunteers and 35 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
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $105K a year · 5% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 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
$210K
to officers and key staff · 9% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 52% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 9% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $870K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.6 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $6K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$317K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.4M
+8% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.4M
FY2025▲ +8%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$2.4M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$2.3M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2025▲ +7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.9M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$2.4M

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 Oct 1992.

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% · $1.7M Management & general 25% · $569K Fundraising 2% · $36K

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; $210K 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
Tiffany Price
Head of School
$129,367Pt VII · Sec A
Paula Bjornson
Business and Operations Ma
$80,229Pt VII · Sec A
Carlos Garcia
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Katie Russell
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Jocelyn Wood
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Tiffany Price’s $129K as Head of School is at the 52nd 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 · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Tiffany Price$129,367$122,140$56,716———
Barbara Hutton——$76,921$128,879——
Barbara Mitchell Hutton————$128,771$128,007
Paula Bjornson$80,229$76,482————

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 The Nova School Association 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 15aYes

Programs and updates

Inspires lifelong learning by providing a challenging educational program for gifted middle school students.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

NOVA, the only independent middle school dedicated to highly capable learners in Olympia, Washington, provides a comprehensive education that extends beyond an advanced curriculum, fostering intellectual, social, and emotional growth.

$1.2Mprogram expense
02

NOVA regards enrollment as an investment in the future, providing more than an education through a holistic approach that supports each student's growth and well-being. This philosophy extends to the school's need-based financial aid program, which is guided by quantitative data to ensure fairness and consistency.

$403Kprogram expense
03

Each year, NOVA offers a two-week summer camp for children entering grades 4 through 6 in the fall. The program features a diverse selection of engaging classes, most of which are led by current NOVA faculty or alumni. To further strengthen community connections, many current students and alumni return as volunteers.

$27Kprogram 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
Community Foundation of South Puget SoundFY2024$6K
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$6K
Grants paid · 1 grant · $322K · 2019–2019
Unitemized GrantFY2019$322,163

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990
from philanthropy.org
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$99K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$90K
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.7M
Managementcol C$569K
Fundraisingcol D$36K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$490K
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$317K
PeoplePt VI, VII
14
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$90K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$13K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$22K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$99K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4K
Total revenueLn 12$2.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2K
SavingsLn 2$488K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$490K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$870K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$317K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 615
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$456K$490K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$793K$870K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.2M$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$2.5M$2.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$260K$317K
Net assetsLn 32$2.2M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$405K$405K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$243K$15K$229K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$876K$716K$135K$24K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$35K$30K$3K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$116K$96K$15K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$100K$65K$33K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$3K$3K
Accounting feesLn 11c$24K$24K
Investment management feesLn 11f$2K$2K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$30K$21K$9K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$8K$6K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$37K$20K$16K$87
Information technologyLn 14$17K$16K$962
OccupancyLn 16$125K$100K$26K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$70K$56K$14K
InsuranceLn 23$34K$2K$32K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$136K$121K$13K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$13K$5K$8K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.7M$569K$36K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.4M$2.3M$158K$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.3M$2.2M$108K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.0M$1.9M$49K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.9M$2.0M−$94K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.2M$1.9M$329K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.1M$2.0M$77K$1.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,439,854 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $97,876$89,955
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,173,762$2,256,928
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $9,396$99,374
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$17,684−$6,403
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,263,350$2,439,854
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $412,000$404,588
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,273,963$1,370,098
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $469,116$507,040
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,155,079$2,281,726
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $108,271$158,128
Part VI · Governance 7 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members7
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 $2,439,854 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$22,240
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$67,715
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$13,400
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$89,955
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,256,928$2,256,928
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $95,016$95,016
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $750$750
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $4,358$4,358
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$7,989−$7,989
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $836$836
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,256,928 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $92,971$2,439,854
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,281,726 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $404,588$404,588
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $14,820 · Management $228,524$243,344
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $716,352 · Management $135,038 · Fundraising $24,359$875,749
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $30,449 · Management $3,057 · Fundraising $1,374$34,880
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $96,380 · Management $14,920 · Fundraising $4,351$115,651
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $65,179 · Management $32,989 · Fundraising $2,306$100,474
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $3,039$3,039
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $23,700$23,700
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $2,020$2,020
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $20,777 · Management $9,210$29,987
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $8,176 · Management $5,682 · Fundraising $1,824$15,682
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $20,166 · Management $16,395 · Fundraising $87$36,648
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $16,360 · Management $962$17,322
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $99,783 · Management $25,502$125,285
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $56,134 · Management $14,033$70,167
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $1,876 · Management $32,181$34,057
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $121,179 · Management $13,254 · Fundraising $1,409$135,842
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,158 · Management $8,133$13,291
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,677,377 · Management $568,639 · Fundraising $35,710$2,281,726
Part X · Balance sheet $2,688,138 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $306$1,706
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $456,054$488,022
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,396$2,539
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $55,256$94,574
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,166,730$1,231,543
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $629,914$690,054
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $162,748$179,700
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,475,404$2,688,138
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $168,547$189,378
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $91,144$127,725
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $259,691$317,103
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,039,511$2,191,335
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $176,202$179,700
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,215,713$2,371,035
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,475,404$2,688,138
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,371,035 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,439,854
XI-2 Total expenses$2,281,726
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$158,128
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,215,713
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$19,758
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$16,952
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,371,035

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

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