Summer Search
Summer Search reported $15.8 million in revenue and $21.0 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $66.65 went to program services, $14.78 to management and general costs and $18.57 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $378,497 (CEO). 41 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 14% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $21MFor context, the median across 409 covered employment charities: $88.97 programs, $11.03 management, $0.00 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 66.7% | 88.0% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.8% | 10.9% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 18.6% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.26 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.6% | 22.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 3.2% | 1.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.3% | 62.6% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $378,497 | $297,435 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.80% | 1.26% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 41 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.8 | 8.1 |
| 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 expenseSUMMER PLACEMENT AND MENTORING: Each student receives two full scholarships to life-changing summer experiential education programs, including wilderness leadership expeditions, academic enrichment programs, community service, and internships. These programs provide opportunities for growth and connection through concentrated experiences that challenge and empower students. Through mentoring students build supportive and sustained relationships with full-time professional staff mentors and peers to reflect on life experiences, actions, identities, and communities
Staff training and development: Summer Search conducts a strong training effort to teach the uniquely effective interview process that identifies students that have leadership potential through an original youth development model that identifies three character metrics that it hopes to cultivate in young people: resiliency, altruism, and performance. The Organization provides a comprehensive training to staff in order to develop and improve mentoring skills which can help students develop relational, leadership and resiliency skills. Training is conducted year-round through a series of…
Post-secondary program: The Organization provides students support to towards their education and long-term goals. The Post-Secondary Program supports a broad set of mid and long-term outcomes for its participants: educational attainment, career readiness, integrated identity, sense of purpose, and financial well-being. The Organization's redesigned Post-Secondary Program will include the implementation of a three-part service model, which will offer more in-depth matriculation and transition assistance, greater access to social capital through alumni and corporate partners, and increased…
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 | $350,000 | $0 | $28,497 | $378,497 |
| Chief Impact Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $235,092 | $0 | $13,086 | $248,178 |
| COFO and Secretary until 11.21.24 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $233,277 | $0 | $13,266 | $246,543 |
| VP of Talent Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,462 | $0 | $28,356 | $221,818 |
| Executive Director - Bay Area Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $197,980 | $0 | $12,770 | $210,750 |
| Chief Advancement Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $204,843 | $0 | $2,600 | $207,443 |
| VP of Program until 11.22.24 Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,474 | $0 | $10,403 | $196,877 |
| Executive Director - Seattle Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $160,000 | $0 | $13,182 | $173,182 |
41 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Summer Search (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $404K (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 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 5197
- Volunteers Part I, line 6599
Private foundation grants it received
72 private foundations reported grants to Summer Search totaling $3.6M 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 Summer Search's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Summer Search, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Summer Search spent in FY2025, $66.65 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- The Corps NetworkWashington, DC · revenue $16M · programs 95.3% · FY2025
- Communidades Latinas Unidas En ServicoSt Paul, MN · revenue $16M · programs 78.8% · 2024
- FarestartSeattle, WA · revenue $16M · programs 76.4% · 2025
- First Coast Workforce DevelopmentOrange Park, FL · revenue $16M · programs 90.0% · FY2025
- Coastal Enterprises of JacksonvilleJacksonville, NC · revenue $16M · programs 27.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Summer Search's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Summer Search reported that 66.7% of its $21.0 million in expenses went to program services, 14.8% to management and general and 18.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Summer Search pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Summer Search reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $378,497, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Summer Search get its money?
Of $15.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 94.6% came from contributions and grants (including 3.2% from government grants) and 2.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Summer Search a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 68-0200138 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 September 30, 2025, object 202612269349301736 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202522249349301917 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202422289349302337 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202302219349300205 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202232279349305278 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142259349302419 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 68-0200138: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.