Equity Now
Also known as Legends Charter School
Equity Now reported $14.4 million in revenue and $13.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $92.43 went to program services, $6.72 to management and general costs and $0.85 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 94.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $195,827 (CEO - EQUITY). 4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 6148% between 2019 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 $14MFor 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 $14MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.31 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 2.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 2.3% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 94.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $195,827 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.42% | 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 | 2.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 13 | 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 expenseEquity Now is committed to prince georges county, the residents, and the students, and desires to strengthen the relationship with the community by offering an academic choice that is rigorous and integral to the growth of our educational landscape. Equity Now aims to provide education to disrupt the current patterns of discrimination, marginalization, and underrepresentation as civic leaders
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 - EQUITY Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,827 | $0 | $0 | $195,827 |
| CEO-LCS Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,839 | $0 | $0 | $193,839 |
| DIRECTOR - O Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,163 | $0 | $0 | $156,163 |
| DIR. FINANCI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $111,217 | $0 | $0 | $111,217 |
| LCS BOARD SE Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $71,699 | $0 | $0 | $71,699 |
4 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Equity Now (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $618K (Part IX, line 5).
6 filings since 2019
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–1b13 · 13 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 11aNo
- 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 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 580
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to Equity Now totaling $610 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 Equity Now's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Equity Now, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Equity Now spent in FY2025, $92.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Loveland Classical SchoolsLoveland, CO · revenue $14M · programs 87.8% · FY2025
- Old Dominion University Real Estate FoundationNorfolk, VA · revenue $14M · programs 94.2% · 2024
- The Bement SchoolDeerfield, MA · revenue $14M · programs 69.7% · FY2025
- Lake Center Christian SchoolHartville, OH · revenue $14M · programs 72.8% · FY2025
- Slam FoundationMiami, FL · revenue $14M · programs 98.9% · 2024
Questions people ask
How much of Equity Now's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Equity Now reported that 92.4% of its $13.8 million in expenses went to program services, 6.7% to management and general and 0.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Equity Now pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Equity Now reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $195,827, for the role of CEO - EQUITY (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Equity Now get its money?
Of $14.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 2.6% came from contributions and grants (including 2.3% from government grants) and 94.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Equity Now a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 82-2008232 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 202631359349314153 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501349349310695 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349303857 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202321359349316337 · read the filing
- FY2020 (6 mo.): Form 990 for the 6-month short period ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349306339 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023259349301507 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 82-2008232: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.