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Nonprofiteer
← ELEVATE 215

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ELEVATE 215.

Totals

Total revenue
$4,527,958
Total expenses
$6,392,565
Contributions and grants received
$4,213,294
Grants paid
$2,892,606
Program service revenue
$117,750
Investment income
$196,914
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$6,246,702
Total liabilities, end of year
$724,348
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,522,354
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$4,992,017
Management and general expenses
$1,043,206
Fundraising expenses
$357,342
Program service expenses (Part III)
$4,992,017

Program services were 78.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,213,294

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $498

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACT REVENUE

    total $117,750 · related or exempt $117,750

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $196,914 · excluded $196,914

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $0 · personal property $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $0

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9a · Gaming: gross income

    $0

  • 9b · Gaming: direct expenses

    $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $0

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $2,892,606 · program services $2,892,606

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $544,379 · program services $390,907 · management and general $46,042 · fundraising $107,430

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,118,454 · program services $578,552 · management and general $508,415 · fundraising $31,487

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $37,377 · program services $18,743 · management and general $17,345 · fundraising $1,289

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $34,847 · program services $8,124 · management and general $26,649 · fundraising $74

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $112,101 · program services $64,371 · management and general $38,666 · fundraising $9,064

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $25,467 · management and general $25,467

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $164,338 · management and general $164,338

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $665,808 · program services $392,154 · management and general $87,779 · fundraising $185,875

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $225,352 · program services $216,235 · management and general $8,205 · fundraising $912

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $32,592 · program services $25,181 · management and general $6,038 · fundraising $1,373

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $162,098 · program services $144,486 · management and general $17,612

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $127,766 · program services $73,367 · management and general $44,069 · fundraising $10,330

  • 17 · Travel

    total $128,937 · program services $124,136 · management and general $4,185 · fundraising $616

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $10,460 · management and general $10,460

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $92,070 · program services $52,869 · management and general $31,757 · fundraising $7,444

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $17,913 · program services $10,286 · management and general $6,179 · fundraising $1,448

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $50 · end of year $50

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $7,025,003 · end of year $4,758,384

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $526,000 · end of year $676,040

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,500 · end of year $4,426

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $87,876 · end of year $82,396

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $170,157

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $116,973

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $79,307 · end of year $53,184

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $81,381 · end of year $352,290

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $422,193 · end of year $319,932

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $98,620 · end of year $418,664

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $326,396 · end of year $0

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $411,333 · end of year $305,684

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $6,684,495 · end of year $4,475,436

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $702,466 · end of year $1,046,918

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

ELEVATE 215 IS A CATALYST FOR PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORLD OF TOMORROW BY MODERNIZING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS TODAY. WE DO THIS BY: SUPPORTING SCHOOLS AND TALENT, COLLABORATING WITH OUR PARTNERS, EXPANDING ACCESS AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATING TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Elevate 215 is developing a collaborative and research-based vision for education to advance learning outcomes for Philadelphia students over the next decade.

  • School and Talent Grants Elevate 215 makes grants to school operators to support the start-up, expansion, or the capacity building of public, public charter, and catholic schools located in Philadelphia. Grant funding supports the expenses of startup, growth and/or improvement activities over the course of single or multiple years. The Organization screens prospective applications by conducting extensive due diligence on the applicants before approving grants, including examination of school models, quantitative data on academic outcomes, analysis of student attendance, attrition, graduation and matriculation data, financial analysis, review of strategic growth plans, assessment of organizational leadership capacity, interviews with school leaders, and school site visits. The Organization invests in talent development initiatives, which are focused on strengthening the recruitment, retention and skill development of school leaders and teachers. During the year ended June 30, 2025, Elevate 215 supported 22 organizations. Community Resources The Organization develops and maintains two technology-based resources to support families in learning about and selecting a school that is a good fit for their children. GreatPhillySchools.org is a web-based information resource that helps parents and guardians learn about school options in Philadelphia by sharing information on school services and performance ratings for more than 2,000 pre-kindergarten and K-12 schools; it also features advice and answers to frequently asked questions on various topics including school application processes specific by sector, scholarships, how to apply to high schools, interacting with a student's teacher, and other relevant information. Policy and Advocacy To ensure that the conditions exist in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania to support the growth and improvement of quality schools, the Organization educates and advocates for evolved education-related policies and makes grants to support such advocacy. The Organization's advocacy is always nonpartisan; it does not support or advocate on behalf of candidates for elected office or education legislation. SCHOOLS, THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES AND ADVOCATES FOR EVOLVED EDUCATION-RELATED POLICIES AND MAKES GRANTS TO SUPPORT SUCH ADVOCACY. THE ORGANIZATION'S ADVOCACY IS ALWAYS NONPARTISAN; IT DOES NOT SUPPORT OR ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE OR EDUCATION LEGISLATION.

    Expenses $3,895,707 · Grants $2,892,606

  • Apply Philly Charter Elevate 215 operates the Apply Philly Charter For the period ended June 30, 2025, over 150,000 families utilized the website to gather information on over 400 school options in Philadelphia. In addition, Elevate 215 supports the Apply Philly Charter (applyphillycharter.org) technology platform, which is an online enrollment system that facilitates the application and acceptance process for a majority of the public charter schools in Philadelphia. In 2025, over 29,000 families utilized Apply Philly Charter to select a school and submit over 130,000 applications.

    Expenses $1,096,310 · Revenue $117,750

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Stacy E Holland

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $336,205
    From this org
    $307,779
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,426
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $307,779
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,820
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,606
    Filer's total
    $336,205

  • Scott Gaiber

    Deputy Chief - Talent Initiati

    Total calculated
    $226,789
    From this org
    $187,526
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,263
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,526
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,927
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,336
    Filer's total
    $226,789

  • Letisha Laws

    Deputy Chief - School Initiati

    Total calculated
    $182,699
    From this org
    $165,523
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,176
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $165,523
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,314
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,862
    Filer's total
    $182,699

  • Eileen Walsh

    Co-Director - Development

    Total calculated
    $153,417
    From this org
    $131,061
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,356
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $131,061
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,356
    Filer's total
    $153,417

  • Tanya Ruley - Mayo

    Chief of Staff

    Total calculated
    $131,717
    From this org
    $110,400
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,317
    Hours/week
    40

  • David Saenz Jr

    Director - Communications

    Total calculated
    $122,942
    From this org
    $112,566
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,376
    Hours/week
    40

  • Benjamin Persofsky

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Zakiyyah Boone

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • William Marx Jr

    Past Treasurer (Thru 09/15/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • H Art Taylor

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Sean E Vereen

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Michelle Carrera Morales

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Jessica Cunningham Akoto

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Richard B Worley

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Jennifer Rice

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Andy Newcomb

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Kate Houstoun

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Dr Amelia Coleman Brown

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Evelyn W McNiff

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Colin Kelton

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

  • Chip Linehan

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
15 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533089349301903

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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