Denver School of Science and Technology
Denver School of Science and Technology reported $137.7 million in revenue and $132.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $98.08 went to program services, $1.48 to management and general costs and $0.44 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 85.6% of the total. Government grants made up 5.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $305,458 (Chief Executive Officer). 57 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 706% 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 $133MFor 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 $138MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 98.1% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 1.5% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 13.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.9% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 85.6% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $305,458 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.23% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 57 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 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 expenseProviding funding and management services for the establishment and growth of public schools. Dsst currently serves a student population of 7,600 students in 16 schools. At full enrollment in 2035, dsst will serve 8,850 students in 18 schools across denver public schools and aurora public schools. To date, dsst has prepared 100% of our graduates to attend a four year college. Dsst schools are recognized among the top performing schools in colorado
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $280,372 | $0 | $25,086 | $305,458 |
| DSST President Key employee, 40.0 hrs/week | $225,433 | $0 | $19,449 | $244,882 |
| Former Chief Executive Officer (END 07/2024) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $199,976 | $0 | $18,334 | $218,310 |
| Chief Student Affairs Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $172,295 | $0 | $31,306 | $203,601 |
| Chief External Affairs Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $171,157 | $0 | $30,350 | $201,507 |
| Chief Operating Officer Officer, 38.0 hrs/week | $167,420 | $0 | $31,575 | $198,995 |
| Chief People Officer (END 01/2025) Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $176,057 | $0 | $15,992 | $192,049 |
| Chief Schools Officer Officer, 40.0 hrs/week | $169,977 | $0 | $9,038 | $179,015 |
57 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Denver School of Science and Technology (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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–1b15 · 15 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 51,333
- Volunteers Part I, line 6175
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS Admin/sped/services | $12,299,374 |
| AURORA PUBLIC SCHOOLS Admin/sped/services | $1,596,116 |
| LTB LLC Human Resources Support | $147,142 |
| PEAK TECH CONSULTING LLC Data reporting consulting | $145,700 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
6 private foundations reported grants to Denver School of Science and Technology totaling $687K 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 Denver School of Science and Technology's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Denver School of Science and Technology, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Denver School of Science and Technology spent in FY2025, $98.08 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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- Lawrence University of WisconsinAppleton, WI · revenue $138M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
- Rutgers University FoundationNew Brunswick, NJ · revenue $137M · programs 87.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Denver School of Science and Technology's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Denver School of Science and Technology reported that 98.1% of its $132.9 million in expenses went to program services, 1.5% to management and general and 0.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Denver School of Science and Technology pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Denver School of Science and Technology reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $305,458, for the role of Chief Executive Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Denver School of Science and Technology get its money?
Of $137.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 13.9% came from contributions and grants (including 5.9% from government grants) and 85.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Denver School of Science and Technology a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-1602733 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 202611289349302951 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202511229349301336 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411229349301896 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202311169349301446 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221269349303262 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202140539349300959 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-1602733: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.