Nichols School of Buffalo
Nichols School of Buffalo reported $25.7 million in revenue and $22.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.85 went to program services, $10.48 to management and general costs and $6.67 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 67.2% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $475,778 (HEAD OF SCHOOL). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 34% 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 $23MFor 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 $26MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.9% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.41 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 14.3% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 67.2% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $475,778 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.08% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 56.5 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 22 of 22 | 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 expenseEducation/faculty - Nichols School's excellence begins with its faculty. We spend the majority of the school's resources to ensure we recruit, hire and retain the highest qualified faculty. We also believe in on-going training for our faculty by investing in a wide variety of continuing education programs. This enhances their teaching abilities and renews their commitment to their field. This establishes the school as a leader in quality education which attracts the best and brightest students not only in the wny area, but from around the world. We have several international students and…
Financial aid - Nichols School provides financial aid to 53% of its students. This ensures diversity within the student body and provides the opportunity of a private school education to those who otherwise may not be able to afford it. Through the strategic planning process and the funds available through our endowment, we have been able to sustain our enrollment while maintaining our goal for the percentage of financial aid dollars available and the percentage of students receiving those dollars. This process is critical to maintaining a diverse student population into the future
Facilities - the campus consists of six separate buildings linked by tree lined sidewalks on 30 acres of city property. This includes a performing arts center and an ice rink. By providing well maintained and varied academic, arts and athletic facilities, it demonstrates the support and commitment to the faculty, coaches and students
Highest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD OF SCHOOL Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $443,598 | $0 | $32,180 | $475,778 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $218,144 | $0 | $33,003 | $251,147 |
| DEAN OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $165,562 | $0 | $13,348 | $178,910 |
| ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $157,500 | $0 | $19,943 | $177,443 |
| ASST HEAD OF SCHOOL - ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $146,075 | $0 | $19,905 | $165,980 |
| DEAN, COLLEGE COUNSELING & ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $113,972 | $0 | $17,743 | $131,715 |
| DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $106,500 | $0 | $12,041 | $118,541 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Nichols School of Buffalo (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $735K (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–1b22 · 22 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 5244
- Volunteers Part I, line 6125
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MOLLENBERG BETZ Mechanical contractor | $724,447 |
| ATHLETICA SPORT SYSTEMS INC Rink equipment manufacturer and supplier | $355,368 |
| MCF ARCHITECTURE Architectural and engineering | $300,730 |
| GROVE ROOFING Roofing services | $182,946 |
| GRAND TOURS Transportation services | $133,584 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
30 private foundations reported grants to Nichols School of Buffalo totaling $595K 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 Nichols School of Buffalo's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Nichols School of Buffalo, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Nichols School of Buffalo spent in FY2025, $82.85 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The City and Country SchoolNew York, NY · revenue $26M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
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- Trinity-Pawling School CorporationPawling, NY · revenue $26M · programs 74.9% · FY2025
- International School of DenverDenver, CO · revenue $26M · programs 77.7% · FY2025
- Liuna Chicagoland Laborers' District Council Training and Apprentice FundCarol Stream, IL · revenue $26M · programs 83.9% · FY2026
Questions people ask
How much of Nichols School of Buffalo's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Nichols School of Buffalo reported that 82.9% of its $22.9 million in expenses went to program services, 10.5% to management and general and 6.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Nichols School of Buffalo pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Nichols School of Buffalo reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $475,778, for the role of HEAD OF SCHOOL (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Nichols School of Buffalo get its money?
Of $25.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 14.3% came from contributions and grants (including 1.5% from government grants) and 67.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Nichols School of Buffalo a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 16-0755808 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 202631319349301323 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501339349300120 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202430949349301133 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301179349300305 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230679349300933 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141339349304594 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 16-0755808: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.