The Columbus Academy
The Columbus Academy reported $46.9 million in revenue and $46.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.17 went to program services, $18.44 to management and general costs and $2.39 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 80.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $736,615 (HEAD OF SCHOOL). 38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 25% 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 $46MFor 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 $47MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 18.4% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.20 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 11.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 80.8% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $736,615 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.60% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 38 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 22.1 | 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD OF SCHOOL Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $687,909 | $0 | $48,706 | $736,615 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $238,113 | $0 | $42,516 | $280,629 |
| UPPER SCHOOL HEAD Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,430 | $0 | $73,268 | $239,698 |
| DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $183,060 | $0 | $48,816 | $231,876 |
| LOWER SCHOOL HEAD Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $176,784 | $0 | $38,506 | $215,290 |
| ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $169,404 | $0 | $18,938 | $188,342 |
38 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Columbus Academy (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–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 26Yes
- 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 5557
- Volunteers Part I, line 6804
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SAGE DINING SERVICES INC Dining services | $1,575,962 |
| OSS OHIO HOLDINGS Custodial | $553,373 |
| VENN GROWTH Marketing/website | $360,777 |
| MCGANN MEDIA GROUP Magazine/digital ads | $250,229 |
| OHIO EQUITIES MANAGEMENT Maintenance | $217,409 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 22 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
17 private foundations reported grants to The Columbus Academy totaling $740K 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 Columbus Academy'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 Columbus Academy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Columbus Academy spent in FY2025, $79.17 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Elmira CollegeElmira, NY · revenue $47M · programs 75.0% · FY2025
- Jackson Hole Classical AcademyJackson, WY · revenue $47M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
- Paterson Charter School for Science and TechnologyPaterson, NJ · revenue $47M · programs 64.9% · FY2025
- Woodbury UniversityBurbank, CA · revenue $47M · programs 87.7% · FY2025
- Centenary College of LouisianaShreveport, LA · revenue $47M · programs 83.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Columbus Academy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Columbus Academy reported that 79.2% of its $46.0 million in expenses went to program services, 18.4% to management and general and 2.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Columbus Academy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Columbus Academy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $736,615, for the role of HEAD OF SCHOOL (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Columbus Academy get its money?
Of $46.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 11.9% came from contributions and grants (including 3.1% from government grants) and 80.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Columbus Academy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 31-4379445 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 202600969349301210 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202500569349300030 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202401299349304205 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 (amended), object 202400229349301370 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202210289349300031 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202130369349300408 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 31-4379445: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.