New Schools Fund FY2023 filing

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New Schools fund's mission is to improve public education.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
86¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$3.0M 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

FY2023 · 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 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $6.6M a year · 12% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
86%
of spending
Looks good: 86% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$3.0M
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $42.3M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 0.3 months of spending in cash, plus $42.3M in investments.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $7.5M
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.4M
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$49.1M
-34% vs prior year
Spent
$54.5M
To programs
86%
Net assets
$63.9M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$49.1M
FY2023▼ -34%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$65.3M
FY2021$41.2M
FY2022$74.5M
FY2023$49.1M
FY2024$41.8M
Expenses
$54.5M
FY2023▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$42.3M
FY2021$46.7M
FY2022$59.4M
FY2023$54.5M
FY2024$36.1M
Net assets
$63.9M
FY2023▼ -7%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$77.9M
FY2021$54.0M
FY2022$68.6M
FY2023$63.9M
FY2024$69.2M

From the FY2023 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 1998.

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

Where the money goes

86 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 86% · $46.8M Management & general 11% · $6.0M Fundraising 3% · $1.6M

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

21 people listed on the 990; $3.0M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
CEO (as of 1/23)
$491,743Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Ext. Affairs Off. (thru 12/23)
$346,251Pt VII · Sec A
Chief People Officer
$318,633Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Strategy Officer/Secretary
$305,100Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Operating Officer/Treasurer
$304,435Pt VII · Sec A
Managing Partner
$264,066Pt VII · Sec A
$236,516Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Research & Learning
$232,185Pt VII · Sec A

Frances Messano’s $502K as CEO is at the 89th 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Stacey Childress——$150,006$150,007$597,370
Frances Messano$501,869$491,743$448,938$420,199$342,750
Danielle Kristine Toussaint—$346,251$293,306——
Heather McManus$324,810$318,633$294,002$240,694$211,110
Delicia Jones$318,082$305,100———
Christopher Lozier$310,805$304,435$120,255——
Mia Howard$289,320$264,066$232,676——
Amy Omand——$273,198$270,232$258,615

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 New Schools Fund executive salaries →

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

Invests philanthropic capital and provides management support to educators and entrepreneurs launching innovative public schools and diverse learning solutions to improve public education.

Questions for New Schools Fund

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Your first name shows with your question. New Schools Fund answers here, for everyone.

1 program · $46.8M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01

Venture Funding and Support

Newschools raises philanthropic dollars and invests them in entrepreneurs and teams of educators. We find, fund, and support organizations that are reimagining education. In addition to providing financial assistance, newschools also provides additional resources including convenings, access to research, participation in a cohort, and…

$46.8Mprogram 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 11 funders →
Grants paid · 744 grants · $146.5M · 2020–2024
Edgecombe County Public SchoolsFY2024$315,000
Radical Arts Academy of DenverCO · FY2024$315,000
Foust Gaming and Robotics School (guilford County Schools)FY2024$315,000
Education EvolvingMN · FY2024$250,000
CommunityshareAZ · FY2024$250,000
Timely SchoolsFY2024$250,000
Oko Labs INCFY2024$250,000
Capti - Charmtech Labs LLCFY2024$250,000
Peerteach INCFY2024$250,000
Paloma Learning INCFY2024$250,000
Cultivating LiteracyCA · FY2024$250,000
Assistments Foundation INCMA · FY2024$250,000
See all 744 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$49.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$49K
Money outPt IX
$54.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$46.8M
Managementcol C$6.0M
Fundraisingcol D$1.6M
Owns and owesPt X
$63.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.2M
Total assetsLn 16$66.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A10
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$45.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$4.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$49K
Gains on assetsLn 7$2.4M
Total revenueLn 12$49.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.2M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$20.8M
Accounts receivableLn 4$393K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$179K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$245K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$42.3M
Other assetsLn 15$1.4M
Total assetsLn 16$66.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$63.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 544
VolunteersI 610
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$5.1M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$877K$1.2M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$68.2M$42.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$30K$245K
Total assetsLn 16$72.5M$66.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.9M$2.4M
Net assetsLn 32$68.6M$63.9M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$32.1M$32.1M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.9M$965K$635K$333K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$7.0M$4.2M$2.1M$685K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$446K$292K$110K$44K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$916K$467K$362K$87K
Payroll taxesLn 10$588K$357K$171K$60K
Legal feesLn 11b$985$985
Accounting feesLn 11c$212K$212K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$7.2M$6.4M$792K$500
Advertising and promotionLn 12$232K$59K$149K$24K
Office expensesLn 13$111K$50K$57K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$406K$24K$372K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$819K$877$818K
TravelLn 17$442K$359K$67K$16K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$115K$70K$40K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$31K$6K$25K
InsuranceLn 23$23K$23K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$2.0M$1.5M$155K$380K
Total functional expensesLn 25$54.5M$46.8M$6.0M$1.6M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Sep 29, 2025 $41.8M$36.1M$5.7M$69.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Sep 14, 2024 $49.1M$54.5M−$5.5M$63.9M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Oct 16, 2023 $74.5M$59.4M$15.1M$68.6M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Sep 20, 2022 $41.2M$46.7M−$5.5M$54.0M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Sep 29, 2021 $65.3M$42.3M$23.0M$77.9M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $49,069,499 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $71,533,539$45,026,641
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,165,440$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,807,772$3,993,429
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $2,100$49,429
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $74,508,851$49,069,499
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $40,464,130$32,051,500
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $10,226,906$10,838,041
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $8,741,320$11,630,654
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $59,432,356$54,520,195
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $15,076,495−$5,450,696
Part VI · Governance 10 of 11 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members10
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 $49,069,499 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$45,026,641
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,062,648
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$45,026,641
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,591,920$1,591,920
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $8,400$8,400
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $2,401,509$2,401,509
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $41,029$41,029
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $4,042,858$49,069,499
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $54,520,195 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $32,051,500$32,051,500
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $964,501 · Management $635,450 · Fundraising $333,455$1,933,406
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,210,464 · Management $2,058,568 · Fundraising $684,841$6,953,873
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $292,122 · Management $110,384 · Fundraising $43,801$446,307
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $467,083 · Management $361,937 · Fundraising $87,234$916,254
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $357,118 · Management $170,697 · Fundraising $60,386$588,201
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $985$985
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $211,535$211,535
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,416,391 · Management $792,135 · Fundraising $500$7,209,026
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $58,948 · Management $148,588 · Fundraising $24,085$231,621
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $50,309 · Management $57,429 · Fundraising $3,493$111,231
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $24,404 · Management $372,064 · Fundraising $9,442$405,910
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $877 · Management $818,090$818,967
IX-17 TravelPrograms $358,834 · Management $66,986 · Fundraising $15,735$441,555
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $69,606 · Management $40,044 · Fundraising $5,215$114,865
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $5,542 · Management $25,167$30,709
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $23,214$23,214
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,496,419 · Management $154,528 · Fundraising $380,089$2,031,036
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $46,824,118 · Management $6,047,801 · Fundraising $1,648,276$54,520,195
Part X · Balance sheet $66,393,420 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $876,593$1,162,541
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $584,111$20,759,942
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $617,950$393,051
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,104,529$179,079
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $29,867$244,830
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $63,480,736$36,318,455
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $4,758,771$5,968,227
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $30,000$1,367,295
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $72,482,557$66,393,420
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $963,503$882,661
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $520,000$125,000
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $250,000$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $2,180,093$1,440,614
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,913,596$2,448,275
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $67,387,270$43,016,636
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,181,691$20,928,509
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $68,568,961$63,945,145
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $72,482,557$66,393,420
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $63,945,145 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$49,069,499
XI-2 Total expenses$54,520,195
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$5,450,696
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$68,568,961
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$826,880
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$63,945,145

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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