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Nonprofiteer
← SPENCE SCHOOL

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by SPENCE SCHOOL.

Totals

Total revenue
$63,102,086
Total expenses
$69,870,324
Contributions and grants received
$6,177,522
Grants paid
$8,305,820
Program service revenue
$50,829,041
Investment income
$4,769,774
Other revenue
$1,325,749
Total assets, end of year
$396,968,006
Total liabilities, end of year
$60,823,166
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$336,144,840
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$59,094,690
Management and general expenses
$8,270,365
Fundraising expenses
$2,505,269
Program service expenses (Part III)
$59,094,690

Program services were 84.6% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $1,180,679

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $733,162

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,263,681

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,175,414

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TUITION

    total $48,468,061 · related or exempt $48,468,061

  • 2b · Program service revenue: AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

    total $1,016,875 · related or exempt $1,016,875

  • 2c · Program service revenue: STUDENT FEES

    total $583,719 · related or exempt $583,719

  • 2d · Program service revenue: MUSIC PROGRAM FEES

    total $476,550 · related or exempt $476,550

  • 2e · Program service revenue: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE

    total $283,836 · related or exempt $283,836

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $3,352,428 · excluded $3,352,428

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $814,165

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $404,569

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $409,596

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $409,596 · unrelated business $5,027 · excluded $404,569

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $2,899,345

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $1,447,037 · other assets $34,962

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,452,308 · other assets -$34,962

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,417,346 · unrelated business -$2,782 · excluded $1,420,128

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $264,598

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $1,180,679

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $264,598

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: SQUASH MEMBERSHIP AND OTHER

    total $979,790 · unrelated business $979,790

  • 11b · Other revenue: PASS THRU GAIN-LTD PARTNERSHIPS

    total -$63,637 · unrelated business -$63,637

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $916,153

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $8,305,820 · program services $8,305,820

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $3,630,043 · program services $3,075,509 · management and general $554,534

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $28,517,790 · program services $25,194,972 · management and general $1,969,512 · fundraising $1,353,306

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $2,068,908 · program services $1,852,677 · management and general $142,307 · fundraising $73,924

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $4,747,935 · program services $4,251,707 · management and general $326,579 · fundraising $169,649

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $2,283,862 · program services $2,045,165 · management and general $157,092 · fundraising $81,605

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $459,529 · management and general $459,529

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $103,369 · management and general $103,369

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $511,833 · management and general $511,833

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,407,664 · program services $843,664 · management and general $391,468 · fundraising $172,532

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $434,643 · program services $168,105 · management and general $9,250 · fundraising $257,288

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $910,516 · program services $739,100 · management and general $121,239 · fundraising $50,177

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,119,301 · program services $361,080 · management and general $689,207 · fundraising $69,014

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,672,705 · program services $2,175,815 · management and general $487,728 · fundraising $9,162

  • 17 · Travel

    total $890,525 · program services $813,739 · management and general $57,646 · fundraising $19,140

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,154,760 · program services $828,731 · management and general $147,681 · fundraising $178,348

  • 20 · Interest

    total $632,855 · program services $506,284 · management and general $126,571

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $6,651,541 · program services $5,321,233 · management and general $1,330,308

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $656,945 · program services $525,556 · management and general $131,389

  • 24a · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES

    total $1,814,551 · program services $1,190,304 · management and general $553,123 · fundraising $71,124

  • 24b · Other expenses: FOOD SERVICE

    total $895,229 · program services $895,229

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $2,035 · end of year $2,039

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $32,365,335 · end of year $29,187,599

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $4,753,065 · end of year $1,805,385

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $575,964 · end of year $729,600

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $21,397 · end of year $20,478

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $3,259,594 · end of year $812,773

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

    $291,117,602

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

    $91,544,691

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $201,636,718 · end of year $199,572,911

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $95,198,074 · end of year $113,068,965

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $48,081,981 · end of year $50,973,552

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $825,596 · end of year $794,704

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,050,899 · end of year $2,266,615

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $26,535,699 · end of year $28,470,391

  • 20 · Tax-exempt bond liabilities

    beginning of year $30,395,000 · end of year $30,086,160

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $194,912,831 · end of year $193,960,832

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $132,825,330 · end of year $142,184,008

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

WITH A COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY, THE SPENCE SCHOOL PREPARES A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN FOR THE LIFELONG TRANSFORMATION OF SELF AND THE WORLD WITH PURPOSE, PASSION AND PERSPECTIVE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PREPARE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF GIRLS/YOUNG WOMEN FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF SELF AND THE WORLD.

  • THE SPENCE SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT, COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL PROVIDING AN EDUCATION FOR GIRLS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12.

    Expenses $59,094,690 · Grants $8,305,820 · Revenue $50,829,041

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • William L Jacob III

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Anand Desai

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kimberly Kravis

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Arthur Chu

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Heather Berger

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Michael P Clifford

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Vanessa Cornell

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Erica Desai

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Joseph Drayton

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Alexis McGill Johnson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Dana Wallach Jones

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Kathryn Koch

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Meredith Rubel Lipsher

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bryce Markus

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ahrin Mishan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anya Herz Shiva

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • James Shulman

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Emily Speyer

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jose Tavarez

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Brooke Williams

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Daryl Wout

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Robert Fallon

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 7/1/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Arielle Nagler Sherrill

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 7/1/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jennifer Skyler

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 7/1/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lola Ladeinde Temple

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 7/1/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lisa Yvette Waller PhD

    TRUSTEE (AS OF 7/1/23)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Felicia Wilks

    HEAD OF SCHOOL

    Total calculated
    $871,925
    From this org
    $759,003
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $112,922
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $759,003
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $82,719
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,203
    Filer's total
    $871,925
  • Bruce Orem

    DIRECTOR OF FIN. & OP.

    Total calculated
    $520,946
    From this org
    $492,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,946
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $492,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,194
    Nontaxable benefits
    $752
    Filer's total
    $520,946
  • Ellanor N Brizendine

    HEAD OF SCHOOL (THRU 6/30/23)

    Total calculated
    $727,996
    From this org
    $596,820
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $131,176
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $596,820
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $124,072
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,104
    Filer's total
    $727,996
  • Elyse Waterhouse

    DIR. OF FIN. & OP. (THRU 6/30/23)

    Total calculated
    $367,660
    From this org
    $334,280
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,380
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $334,280
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $26,707
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,673
    Filer's total
    $367,660
  • Karen Sullivan

    HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

    Total calculated
    $361,059
    From this org
    $317,324
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,735
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $317,324
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,776
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,959
    Filer's total
    $361,059
  • Elizabeth Causey

    HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

    Total calculated
    $361,009
    From this org
    $317,274
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $43,735
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $317,274
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,776
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,959
    Filer's total
    $361,009
  • Rachael Flores

    HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

    Total calculated
    $309,050
    From this org
    $256,003
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,047
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $256,003
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $22,844
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,203
    Filer's total
    $309,050
  • Eric Zahler

    DIR. OF TEACHING / LEARNING

    Total calculated
    $359,455
    From this org
    $307,184
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,271
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $307,184
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,776
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,495
    Filer's total
    $359,455
  • Michele Murphy

    DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM

    Total calculated
    $360,013
    From this org
    $303,736
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $56,277
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $303,736
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $28,776
    Nontaxable benefits
    $27,501
    Filer's total
    $360,013
  • Dana Crowell

    CO-DIR. OF COLLEGE COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $325,482
    From this org
    $278,438
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,044
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $278,438
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $25,618
    Nontaxable benefits
    $21,426
    Filer's total
    $325,482
  • Emily Fincke

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $342,118
    From this org
    $300,363
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $41,755
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $300,363
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $27,657
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,098
    Filer's total
    $342,118
  • Jacob Kovach

    DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    Total calculated
    $311,273
    From this org
    $258,513
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $52,760
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $258,513
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $23,663
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,097
    Filer's total
    $311,273

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

  • 1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
  • 1a · Personal services (maid, chauffeur, chef)
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THE SCHOOL PROVIDES HOUSING TO THE HEAD OF SCHOOL. THE HOUSING BENEFIT IS PART OF THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL.
PART I, LINE 3
COMPENSATION: A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DETERMINES THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION FOR THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL. A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS RECOMMENDS TO THE BOARD AN OVERALL PERCENTAGE FOR COMPENSATION INCREASES. THE COMMITTEE THEN ALLOCATES TO THE SALARY SCALE FOR TEACHING STAFF. THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL DETERMINES SALARIES FOR NON-TEACHING STAFF WITHIN THE OVERALL INCREASE APPROVED. SALARIES ARE DETERMINED BASED ON PUBLISHED COMPARABLE SALARY INFORMATION FOR SIMILAR SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
PART I, LINE 4B
THE SCHOOL MAINTAINS BOTH THE SECTION 457(B) AND 457(F) DEFERRED-COMPENSATION PLANS FOR ITS HEAD OF SCHOOL. THE AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED TO THESE PLANS BY THE SCHOOL WAS $54,775. IN 2023, THE FORMER HEAD OF SCHOOL RECEIVED A PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,200,000 FROM A 457(F) PLAN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID AND REPORTED AS INCOME IN JULY 2021. THIS ERROR WAS CORRECTED IN FISCAL-YEAR 2025 AND THE PAYMENT IS NOW REPORTED ON HER AMENDED W-2 FOR 2022. THE SCHOOL IS FILING ALL FORMS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCOME.

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202531329349304778

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