Explore Schools Inc

The information for Explore Schools Inc is as of the organization's most recent filing in June '21. This organization is located in Brooklyn, NY. It has been in existence for 11 years, following its founding in 2010.

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 Explore Schools Inc's NTEE code is B99. The "B" tells us that the organization is classified under Education. The "99" indicates that the major purpose of the organization is unclear and cannot be accurately assigned. The NTEE describes organizations with this code as providing education services where the major purpose is unclear.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. Explore Schools Inc is classified under section 3 of the Internal Revenue Code, which includes 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.

To understand the organization's goals and objectives, we can look at its mission. The mission of Explore Schools Inc is to provide strategic planning, board governance, financial oversight, human resources, and other management support services to schools.

Program Areas

The organization's general fund includes all revenues, support, and functional expenses that are not specifically reported by another fund or program. This fund supports approximately 2,065 students enrolled in the network's educational corporation in Brooklyn for the 2020-2021 academic year. The organization's mission is to provide value-added support to schools within the network that serve students in underserved communities, ensuring they have access to high-quality public education.

Organization Staffing

Explore Schools Inc is run by Carolyn Mauer, who is the Executive Director. The organization has 37 employees, of whom 16 are paid more than $100k per year (according to the organization's most recent 990 tax filing). Supporting the paid staff are 4 volunteers.

Board Governance

Explore Schools Inc appears to be well-governed based on the provided information. With a total of 4 voting members, all of whom are independent, the organization ensures a fair and unbiased decision-making process. The absence of potential conflicts of interest further strengthens the organization's governance structure. The fact that Explore Schools Inc has not delegated management to an outside firm demonstrates a commitment to maintaining control and accountability within the organization. This allows the board to directly oversee and guide the operations of the non-profit. The documentation of both board meetings and committee meetings indicates a transparent and accountable governance process. This ensures that decisions and actions taken by the organization are well-documented and can be reviewed if necessary. The presence of a conflict of interest policy, along with the requirement for disclosure of conflicts, showcases Explore Schools Inc's dedication to addressing and mitigating any potential conflicts that may arise. This policy ensures that decisions made by the board are in the best interest of the organization and its mission. Additionally, the organization's commitment to having written policies such as a whistleblower policy and document retention policy further demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability. Furthermore, the substantiation and review of leadership and officer salaries indicate that Explore Schools Inc takes the responsibility of financial management seriously. This ensures that the compensation provided is fair and reasonable, aligning with the organization's mission and goals. Lastly, the provision of copies of the 990 form to the board prior to filing ensures that the board has access to key financial information and can review the organization's financial health and compliance with regulations. Overall, based on the information provided, Explore Schools Inc appears to be well-governed, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and the best interests of the organization and its mission.

Grant History

Our dataset includes one year of grant history for Explore Schools Inc. In that year, they have awarded a total of four grants, with an average check size of $86,281. All four grants were awarded in the Education sector. The organization primarily awards grants in the state of New York, with all four grants being awarded there.

Organization Growth

Explore Schools Inc has experienced growth over the given time period. Contributions & Grants Received decreased from $457.6K in 2014 to $59.3K in 2020, but this was offset by an increase in Program Service Revenue from $2.9M in 2014 to $4.0M in 2020. Other Revenue also increased from $150 in 2014 to $2.9K in 2020. Total Revenue increased from $3.4M in 2014 to $4.0M in 2020. Although Grants Paid decreased from $345.1K in 2014 to $14.3K in 2020, Employee Salaries increased from $2.5M in 2014 to $3.5M in 2020. Total Expenses also increased from $3.3M in 2014 to $4.1M in 2020. Additionally, the organization saw an increase in Total Employees from 28 in 2014 to 37 in 2020. Overall, these indicators suggest that Explore Schools Inc has grown over the given time period.