Challenger School Foundation
Challenger School Foundation reported $209.9 million in revenue and $148.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $87.17 went to program services, $12.83 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: 88.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $457,570 (PRESIDENT). 14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 94% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $149MFor 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 July 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $210MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 87.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.8% | 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 | Not reported | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 88.9% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $457,570 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.31% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 14 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 53.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 1 of 7 | 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 expenseDuring the 2024-2025 school year, challenger educated approximately 3,212 students in its 3 and 4 year old preschool programs. Children graduating from challenger's preschool programs are prepared to enter kindergarten with a head start that places them one or two years ahead of their peers
During the 2024-2025 school year, challenger educated approximately 5,179 students in its kindergarten and elementary school programs. On the most recent iowa assessments, challenger's average kindergartener outscored 98 of 100 test takers at his/her grade level, with similar results for students in grades 1 through 5
During the 2024-2025 school year, challenger educated approximately 1,059 students in its middle school grades. On the most recent iowa assessments, challenger's average eighth grader outscored 99 of 100 test takers at his/her grade level, with similar results for students in grades 6 and 7
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $443,970 | $0 | $13,600 | $457,570 |
| DIR SCHOOL O Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $431,918 | $0 | $5,803 | $437,721 |
| VP & SECRETA Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $411,199 | $0 | $5,753 | $416,952 |
| EXEC REGION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $316,161 | $0 | $13,832 | $329,993 |
| EXEC REGION Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $279,770 | $0 | $20,319 | $300,089 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $284,234 | $0 | $13,081 | $297,315 |
| DIRECTOR Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $282,845 | $0 | $11,725 | $294,570 |
| EXEC REGION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $270,002 | $0 | $15,677 | $285,679 |
14 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Challenger School Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.9M (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–1b7 · 1 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 51,661
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| PINKERTON Security | $2,633,103 |
| JANITORIAL EXPRESS Janitorial | $633,869 |
| DLP SERVICES Janitorial | $442,081 |
| JURASSIC JANITORIAL Janitorial | $279,009 |
| VP SECURITY SERVICES Security | $236,936 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Challenger School Foundation totaling $50,000 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 Challenger School Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Challenger School Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Challenger School Foundation spent in FY2025, $87.17 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of LA VerneLA Verne, CA · revenue $209M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
- Manhattan UniversityRiverdale, NY · revenue $210M · programs 86.4% · FY2025
- Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA · revenue $209M · programs 78.5% · FY2025
- St Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY · revenue $211M · programs 85.9% · FY2025
- Iona UniversityNew Rochelle, NY · revenue $208M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Challenger School Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, Challenger School Foundation reported that 87.2% of its $148.9 million in expenses went to program services, 12.8% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Challenger School Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Challenger School Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 was $457,570, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Challenger School Foundation get its money?
Of $209.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending July 31, 2025, 0.1% came from contributions and grants and 88.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Challenger School Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-1405971 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 July 31, 2025, object 202513499349301531 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024, object 202403469349300610 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2023, object 202333469349301408 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2022, object 202223499349300512 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2021, object 202133459349300603 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, object 202003409349300000 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-1405971: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.