The Cottonwood School
The Cottonwood School reported $52.1 million in revenue and $49.3 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $89.22 went to program services, $10.78 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 100.0% of the total. Government grants made up 99.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $277,355 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 71 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 119% 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 $49MFor 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 $52MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.8% | 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 | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 100.0% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 99.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $277,355 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.56% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 71 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.1 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 5 of 5 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,276 | $0 | $58,079 | $277,355 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,377 | $0 | $38,086 | $237,463 |
| CHIEF OF COMPLIANCE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $186,731 | $0 | $44,380 | $231,111 |
| DIR. OF SPECIAL EDUCATION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,594 | $0 | $34,743 | $217,337 |
| DIRECTOR OF CCPA, SCHOOL COUNSELORS & SITE OPERAT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,922 | $0 | $40,237 | $207,159 |
| DIR. OF INSTRUCTION Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $163,728 | $0 | $31,103 | $194,831 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $164,202 | $0 | $29,562 | $193,764 |
71 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Cottonwood School (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $575K (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–1b5 · 5 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 5262
- Volunteers Part I, line 65
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| JOSHUA HOLLOWAY DBA 7TH DIMENSION It support | $364,825 |
| PRESENCE LEARNING Special education services | $340,456 |
| THE COLLABORATIVE VILLAGE OF PROFESSIONA Special education services | $298,134 |
| JABBERGYM Child development services | $160,221 |
| MCCOLGAN & ASSOCIATES Education consulting | $147,190 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to The Cottonwood School totaling $330 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 Cottonwood School'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 Cottonwood School, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Cottonwood School spent in FY2025, $89.22 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Eden Autism ServicesPrinceton, NJ · revenue $52M · programs 90.1% · FY2025
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- University of Chattanooga FoundationChattanooga, TN · revenue $52M · programs 62.9% · FY2025
- Community School for Apprenticeship LearningBaton Rouge, LA · revenue $52M · programs 83.9% · FY2025
- Hillcrest Educational CentersPittsfield, MA · revenue $52M · programs 90.2% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Cottonwood School's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, The Cottonwood School reported that 89.2% of its $49.3 million in expenses went to program services, 10.8% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Cottonwood School pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Cottonwood School reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $277,355, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Cottonwood School get its money?
Of $52.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 100.0% came from contributions and grants (including 99.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Cottonwood School a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 83-3542401 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 202631339349303283 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541229349300229 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441179349302254 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331309349305143 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202241339349304399 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141379349310914 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 83-3542401: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.