Pencil Foundation
Pencil Foundation reported $7.7 million in revenue and $6.6 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $90.11 went to program services, $1.96 to management and general costs and $7.93 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.4% of the total. Government grants made up 21.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $166,518 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 116% 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 $6.6MFor 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 $7.7M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$76.46 $5.9M
- Government grants$21.69 $1.7M
- Program service revenue$0.15 $11,285
- Investment income$1.70 $131K
Other revenue was negative: −$20,609. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 90.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.4% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 21.7% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $166,518 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.53% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 53 of 53 | 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 dg pencil box exists to remove barriers to learning for metro students by ensuring classrooms are stocked with necessary supplies and so educators don't have to spend their own funds on supplies. Through generous donations, the box is stocked with pencils, pens, notebooks, crayons, scissors, books, backpacks and more. Every mnps educator is invited to shop once a month at our west nashville location throughout the school year. Pencil also provides access to supplies through deliveries, pop-ups, and large-scale teacher appreciation projects including together 4 teachers. In FY25, the box…
Grants to mnps pencil continued to be a grantmaking partner to mnps by passing through significant funds to support high-impact literacy tutoring and its focus on student academic growth. In FY25, pencil-managed tutors provided 1,600+ students in grades k-3 with reading support. In addition, pencil was chosen to act as financial fiduciary for reimagining community spaces, a public-private partnership created to support the expansion of certain community spaces within three mnps elementary schools. Our grantmaking partnership work will continue to evolve as we support the strategic plan of…
Pencil partners are businesses and organizations committed to student success through organized, coordinated activities that match the attributes of each partner with the specific needs of each school. We leverage our wide network of contacts and comprehensive knowledge of mnps to connect businesses and schools in customized, meaningful ways that directly help metro students achieve success in school and in life. We manage these relationships by facilitating communication, providing activity ideas, supporting volunteer management, and helping the school and partner develop action plans. In…
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/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,323 | $0 | $11,195 | $166,518 |
| CHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER (UNTIL 1/25) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,860 | $0 | $11,683 | $124,543 |
| CHIEF PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAM OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,425 | $0 | $11,544 | $117,969 |
| CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,417 | $0 | $11,674 | $116,091 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $5,242 | $0 | $0 | $5,242 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pencil Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $595K (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–1b53 · 53 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 596
- Volunteers Part I, line 65,049
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Pencil Foundation totaling $190K 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 Pencil 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 Pencil Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Pencil Foundation spent in FY2025, $90.11 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Bold City EducationJacksonville, FL · revenue $7.4M · programs 84.0% · FY2025
- Southeast Regional Resource CenterJuneau, AK · revenue $7.7M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- Montgomery County - Norristown Public LibraryNorristown, PA · revenue $7.4M · programs 90.7% · 2025
- Corporacion Educativa Ramon BarquinGuaynabo, PR · revenue $7.7M · programs 78.1% · FY2025
- The Prentice SchoolSanta Ana, CA · revenue $6.9M · programs 85.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Pencil Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Pencil Foundation reported that 90.1% of its $6.6 million in expenses went to program services, 2.0% to management and general and 7.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pencil Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pencil Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $166,518, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pencil Foundation get its money?
Of $7.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.4% came from contributions and grants (including 21.7% from government grants) and 0.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pencil Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 58-1475675 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 June 30, 2025, object 202631319349305188 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202413539349300411 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202313179349307516 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202233189349306473 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202103159349306945 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202023009349301862 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 58-1475675: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.