Catalyst Schools
Catalyst Schools reported $31.7 million in revenue and $29.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.74 went to program services, $7.20 to management and general costs and $0.06 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.6% of the total. Government grants made up 95.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $246,072 (CEO). 10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 37% 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 $30MFor 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 $32MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.7% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 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 | 97.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 95.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.3% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $246,072 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.83% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 5.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 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 expenseCatalyst maria charter school is a kindergarten through 12th grade school in the chicago lawn neighborhood. The school operates two classrooms at each grade level, kindergarten through 8th with approximately 340 students and approximately 760 9th - 12th grade students
Catalyst Schools partner with urban communities to offer college-preparatory k-12 education. Each child is given a rigorous academic program suited to his or her needs. In addition, catalyst helps each child develop positive character traits that will help him or her be an asset and change agent in the community. Catalyst's goal is to provide a quality educational choice to families who experience the effects of economic difficulty and who have not been adequately served by existing educational institutions so their children will ultimately graduate from college. Catalyst has two campuses.…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $210,346 | $0 | $35,726 | $246,072 |
| ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $171,774 | $0 | $27,829 | $199,603 |
| DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,281 | $0 | $25,850 | $180,131 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & COMPLIANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,454 | $0 | $13,315 | $168,769 |
| DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $154,790 | $0 | $13,316 | $168,106 |
| DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $138,058 | $0 | $13,035 | $151,093 |
10 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Catalyst Schools (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $264K (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–1b11 · 11 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 5499
- Volunteers Part I, line 625
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PROCARE THERAPY Therapy services | $144,786 |
| EF FBO SCHOOL HOUSE STAFFING LLC Special education services | $111,722 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Catalyst Schools totaling $23,573 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 Catalyst 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 Catalyst Schools, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Catalyst Schools spent in FY2025, $92.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Childrens Scholarship FundNew York, NY · revenue $32M · programs 93.1% · FY2025
- Holland Christian Education SocietyHolland, MI · revenue $32M · programs 90.5% · FY2025
- Michigan Family ResourcesGrand Rapids, MI · revenue $32M · programs 91.5% · 2024
- Evergreen Charter SchoolHempstead, NY · revenue $32M · programs 83.4% · FY2025
- Opportunity 180Las Vegas, NV · revenue $32M · programs 87.0% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Catalyst Schools's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Catalyst Schools reported that 92.7% of its $29.6 million in expenses went to program services, 7.2% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Catalyst Schools pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Catalyst Schools reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $246,072, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Catalyst Schools get its money?
Of $31.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 97.6% came from contributions and grants (including 95.1% from government grants) and 1.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Catalyst Schools a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 20-4069346 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 202611279349301961 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202520649349300112 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401359349312085 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311329349307486 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201089349300945 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131329349302698 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 20-4069346: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.