Propel Schools
Propel Schools reported $25.4 million in revenue and $27.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.41 went to program services, $9.59 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.2% of the total. Government grants made up 16.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $305,148 (Superintendent, CEO). 22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 3% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $28MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $25MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 18.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 16.9% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $305,148 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.10% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 22 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | -0.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 9 of 9 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseHighest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent, CEO Officer, 5.00 hrs/week | $221,031 | $0 | $84,117 | $305,148 |
| Senior Director Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $152,323 | $0 | $61,723 | $214,046 |
| Director of Operations Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $125,218 | $0 | $54,332 | $179,550 |
| Senior Director Academics Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $120,518 | $0 | $52,451 | $172,969 |
| Assist Dir Stud Affairs Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $119,457 | $0 | $51,968 | $171,425 |
| Director Afterschool Program Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $108,927 | $0 | $47,540 | $156,467 |
| Chief Financial Officer Officer, 12.00 hrs/week | $136,119 | $0 | $19,539 | $155,658 |
| Director of Technology Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $106,448 | $0 | $46,779 | $153,227 |
22 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Propel Schools (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $417K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b9 · 9 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5287
- Volunteers Part I, line 611
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Briggs Transportation Transportation | $946,850 |
| SD Transit Inc Transportation | $371,976 |
| Wesley Family Services Special Education | $241,483 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to Propel Schools totaling $35,500 on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Propel Schools's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Propel Schools, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Propel Schools spent in FY2025, $90.41 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Philander Smith CollegeLittle Rock, AR · revenue $25M · programs 75.5% · FY2023
- Legacy Preparatory Christian AcademyThe Woodlands, TX · revenue $25M · programs 86.5% · FY2025
- Alder Graduate School of EducationRedwood City, CA · revenue $25M · programs 89.4% · FY2025
- The Galloway SchoolsAtlanta, GA · revenue $25M · programs 82.0% · FY2025
- Defending Democracy Together InstituteWashington, DC · revenue $25M · programs 98.7% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Propel Schools's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Propel Schools reported that 90.4% of its $27.7 million in expenses went to program services, 9.6% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Propel Schools pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Propel Schools reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $305,148, for the role of Superintendent, CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Propel Schools get its money?
Of $25.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 18.7% came from contributions and grants (including 16.9% from government grants) and 77.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Propel Schools a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 03-0483260 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202631349349303968 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541349349308819 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401149349301700 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321299349304352 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221169349300507 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121239349300607 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 03-0483260: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.