The Art of Problem Solving Initiative
Also known as Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics
The Art of Problem Solving Initiative reported $11.8 million in revenue and $8.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $74.53 went to program services, $14.66 to management and general costs and $10.81 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $244,974 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 234% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $8.7MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $12MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 74.5% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.7% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 10.8% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.5% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $244,974 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.82% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.3 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 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 expenseThe Art of Problem Solving Initiative, inc. (the organization), formerly known as "the Art of Problem Solving foundation" was formed in 2004. From 2004 through 2011, aopsi was a small, all-volunteer organization; we ran a national math contest and supported local university-run math circles. Bridge to enter advanced mathematics (beam) was founded in 2011 by daniel zaharopol and rapidly became aopsi's main priority as the program started to find real success. Beam was founded to address a largely unrecognized problem: while affluent students with talent in math have many opportunities to…
Usa mathematical talent search (usamts)- is a national math competition for middle and high school students to promote advanced mathematical problem-solving skills and education. The usamts encourages students to learn advanced mathematical writing skills. The usamts competition is open to the general public. On average a total of 600 to 700 middle and high school students participate in the usamts
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $237,245 | $0 | $7,729 | $244,974 |
| CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER- FMR Former, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,590 | $0 | $0 | $199,590 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $194,980 | $0 | $449 | $195,429 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $171,670 | $0 | $18,339 | $190,009 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,167 | $0 | $0 | $181,167 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $175,893 | $0 | $0 | $175,893 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, PROGRAM DESIGN Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $145,133 | $0 | $0 | $145,133 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Art of Problem Solving Initiative (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.2M (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–1b13 · 13 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 2Yes
- 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 5234
- Volunteers Part I, line 617
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TRUSTEES OF UNION COLLEGE Facilities, room and board | $128,238 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to The Art of Problem Solving Initiative totaling $1.7M 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 The Art of Problem Solving Initiative's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Art of Problem Solving Initiative, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 The Art of Problem Solving Initiative spent in FY2025, $74.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of The Art of Problem Solving Initiative's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, The Art of Problem Solving Initiative reported that 74.5% of its $8.7 million in expenses went to program services, 14.7% to management and general and 10.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Art of Problem Solving Initiative pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Art of Problem Solving Initiative reported for one person in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025 was $244,974, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Art of Problem Solving Initiative get its money?
Of $11.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending May 31, 2025, 98.1% came from contributions and grants (including 0.5% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Art of Problem Solving Initiative a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 20-1239616 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), 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 May 31, 2025, object 202620599349300312 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2024, object 202520669349301437 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, object 202410809349301471 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, object 202300889349301000 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2021, object 202200959349300905 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, object 202100709349301010 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 20-1239616: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.