California School of Mechanical Arts
Also known as Lick-Wilmerding High School
California School of Mechanical Arts reported $38.5 million in revenue and $38.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.23 went to program services, $13.02 to management and general costs and $2.75 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 87.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $738,454 (HEAD OF SCHOOL). 81 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 23% 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 $39MFor 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 $39MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.7% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.36 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 7.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 87.4% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $738,454 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.91% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 81 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 38.9 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 24 of 24 | 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 expenseLwhs is a non-profit, independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school serving grades 9-12 with a tradition of integrating demanding academic courses with service learning and technical and fine arts. Endowed by san francisco entrepreneur james lick, the California School of Mechanical Arts opened its doors in 1895. Subsequently, the "lick school" merged with the wilmerding school of industrial arts and the lux school of industrial training. A private school with public purpose, lick-wilmerding high school develops the head, heart, and hands of highly motivated students from all…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD OF SCHOOL Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $669,135 | $0 | $69,319 | $738,454 |
| CFOO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $304,892 | $0 | $34,202 | $339,094 |
| DEAN OF TEACHING AND LEARNING Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $224,832 | $0 | $74,483 | $299,315 |
| DEAN OF FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $193,707 | $0 | $38,480 | $232,187 |
| CONTROLLER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $173,971 | $0 | $35,779 | $209,750 |
| FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,745 | $0 | $24,569 | $205,314 |
| FACULTY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $189,604 | $0 | $11,752 | $201,356 |
81 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from California School of Mechanical Arts (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (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–1b24 · 24 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 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 5214
- Volunteers Part I, line 6400
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| TRUEBECK CONSTRUCTION Construction services | $3,426,489 |
| HINES BUILDING MAINTENANCE Facility services | $586,723 |
| PHOENIX TRANSPORTATION Bus services | $327,691 |
| JOFFE EMERGENCY SERVICES Health coordinator services | $158,074 |
| WORLDSTRIDES Tour services | $141,295 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
8 private foundations reported grants to California School of Mechanical Arts totaling $356K 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 California School of Mechanical Arts's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for California School of Mechanical Arts, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 California School of Mechanical Arts spent in FY2025, $84.23 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- IOTA Community SchoolsMemphis, TN · revenue $39M · programs 84.0% · FY2025
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- Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens, TN · revenue $39M · programs 82.7% · FY2025
- Point UniversityWest Point, GA · revenue $39M · programs 85.7% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of California School of Mechanical Arts's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, California School of Mechanical Arts reported that 84.2% of its $38.7 million in expenses went to program services, 13.0% to management and general and 2.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does California School of Mechanical Arts pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation California School of Mechanical Arts reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $738,454, for the role of HEAD OF SCHOOL (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does California School of Mechanical Arts get its money?
Of $38.5 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 7.7% came from contributions and grants and 87.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is California School of Mechanical Arts a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1186156 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 202630939349300433 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202501269349302465 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431369349317548 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341219349300724 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211369349314676 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202101359349300040 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1186156: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.