Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc

The information for Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in June '21. This organization is located in Phoenix, AZ. It has been in existence for 17 years, following its founding in 2004.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc's NTEE code is B29. The "B" tells us that the organization is classified under Education. The "29" tells us that the organization is specifically classified as a Charter School. Charter Schools are independent of the traditional public school system but receive public funding and operate based on a charter that outlines their mission, program, goals, students served, assessment methods, and measures of success. The organization is also governed by section code 3, which encompasses Religious, Educational, Charitable, Scientific, Literary, Testing for Public Safety, to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition, or Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations. The mission of Pioneer Preparatory School is to provide a rigorous and relevant curriculum with balanced support from staff, teachers, family, and the community, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and wisdom to become self-sustaining members of society. The school aims to ensure that students meet and exceed academic standards, fostering their success as lifelong learners.

Program Areas

Pioneer Preparatory School's general fund encompasses all revenues, support, and functional expenses not specifically reported by another fund or program. The school aims to provide a rigorous and relevant curriculum, with support from staff, teachers, family, and the community. Their mission is to equip students with the knowledge and wisdom to become self-sustaining members of society, ensuring their success as lifelong learners who meet and exceed academic standards.

Organization Staffing

Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc is run by Matthew Lopez, who is the Executive Director. The organization has 64 employees, with only one employee being paid over $100k per year. Supporting the paid staff are 5 volunteers.

Board Governance

Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc appears to be a well-governed non-profit organization based on the provided information. The organization has a small board of 6 voting members, all of whom are independent. This ensures that decisions made by the board are not influenced by personal interests or conflicts of interest, which is a positive indication of good governance. Additionally, the organization has documented board meetings and committee meetings, indicating transparency and accountability in their decision-making processes. The presence of a conflict of interest policy and the requirement for disclosure of conflicts further demonstrates the organization's commitment to ethical practices and avoiding potential conflicts. However, there are a few areas where the organization could improve its governance practices. The absence of a written whistleblower policy and a document retention policy may leave the organization vulnerable to potential issues related to reporting misconduct or retaining important documents. Implementing these policies would enhance the organization's ability to address any unethical behavior and ensure the proper retention of important records. Overall, Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc demonstrates strong governance practices, with a focus on transparency, independence, and conflict of interest management. By addressing the areas for improvement, the organization can further enhance its governance structure and continue to effectively serve its mission and stakeholders.

Organization Growth

Pioneer Preparatory School- A Challenge Foundation Academy Inc has experienced growth in terms of its contributions and grants received, as well as its other revenue and total revenue. Contributions and grants received increased from $895.4K in 2014 to $1.4M in 2020. Other revenue also saw an increase from $28.7K in 2014 to $37.7K in 2020. Additionally, the total revenue increased from $4.7M in 2014 to $5.0M in 2020. However, the organization experienced a decrease in program service revenue, which went from $3.7M in 2014 to $3.5M in 2020. Despite the growth in revenue, the nonprofit also saw an increase in employee salaries, from $2.4M in 2014 to $2.7M in 2020, as well as an increase in total expenses, from $4.4M in 2014 to $4.8M in 2020. In terms of staffing, the organization experienced a decrease in both total employees, going from 77 in 2014 to 64 in 2020, and total volunteers, going from 50 in 2014 to 5 in 2020. Overall, while the nonprofit experienced growth in some areas, it also faced challenges in terms of program service revenue and staffing.