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← EDUCATION REFORM NOW ADVOCACY INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by EDUCATION REFORM NOW ADVOCACY INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$9,805,291
Total expenses
$12,191,998
Contributions and grants received
$9,711,911
Grants paid
$1,579,725
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$93,199
Other revenue
$181
Total assets, end of year
$8,608,900
Total liabilities, end of year
$385,720
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$8,223,180
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,869,530
Management and general expenses
$913,908
Fundraising expenses
$408,560
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,869,530

Program services were 89.2% 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

    $9,711,911

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $93,199 · excluded $93,199

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $181 · excluded $181

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $181

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,579,725 · program services $1,579,725

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $429,727 · program services $206,680 · management and general $118,472 · fundraising $104,575

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,493,489 · program services $5,149,205 · management and general $184,455 · fundraising $159,829

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $57,904 · program services $52,358 · management and general $2,961 · fundraising $2,585

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $494,704 · program services $447,321 · management and general $25,300 · fundraising $22,083

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $440,129 · program services $397,973 · management and general $22,509 · fundraising $19,647

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $46,360 · management and general $46,360

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $47,378 · management and general $47,378

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $582,246 · program services $582,246

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $45,750 · fundraising $45,750

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,957,189 · program services $1,718,248 · management and general $218,863 · fundraising $20,078

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $110,792 · program services $66,012 · management and general $44,111 · fundraising $669

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $175,101 · program services $67,321 · management and general $106,425 · fundraising $1,355

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $87,358 · program services $76,246 · management and general $11,112

  • 17 · Travel

    total $239,863 · program services $229,956 · management and general $7,967 · fundraising $1,940

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $126,087 · program services $91,044 · management and general $6,265 · fundraising $28,778

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $3,824 · management and general $3,824

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $35,935 · management and general $35,935

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $131,737 · program services $130,032 · management and general $930 · fundraising $775

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $106,700 · program services $75,163 · management and general $31,041 · fundraising $496

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $5,133,254 · end of year $5,495,257

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $3,524,802 · end of year $2,776,638

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,842,250 · end of year $21,906

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $391,174 · end of year $241,956

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $60,259 · end of year $61,151

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

    $33,402

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

    $26,390

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,003 · end of year $7,012

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $4,980 · end of year $4,980

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $355,843 · end of year $385,720

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $9,507,497 · end of year $7,364,949

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,102,382 · end of year $858,231

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

EDUCATION REFORM NOW ADVOCACY, INC. ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATION POLICIES THAT ENABLE ALL STUDENTS TO OBTAIN A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE EDUCATION.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION POLICIES THAT ENABLE ALL STUDENTS TO OBTAIN A COMPETITIVE EDUCATION.

  • EDUCATION REFORM NOW ADVOCACY, INC. (ERNA) BUILDS COALITIONS AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL TO GIVE A VOICE TO REFORM IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEBATE. IT ALSO IDENTIFIES MISSING CONSTITUENT GROUPS ADVOCATING FOR REFORM AND THEN AIDS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. GENERALLY, POLICY OBJECTIVES ARE BUILT AROUND PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESOURCE EQUITY, HUMAN CAPITAL INCLUDING TEACHER PREPARATION, AND HIGHER EDUCATION. ERNA EMPOWERS ALIGNED APPOINTED AND ELECTED POLICYMAKERS TO GET INTO OFFICE AND ADVANCE INTO INCREASINGLY INFLUENTIAL ROLES; INFORMS AND MOBILIZES VOTERS, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TOWARDS PRO-REFORM POSITIONS AND IN SUPPORT OF ALIGNED ELECTED OFFICIALS; AND ESTABLISHES STRONG AND DIVERSE COALITIONS WITH TRADITIONALLY PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS. WE SUPPORT CANDIDATES IN A NUMBER OF WAYS: DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES AND PROMOTING THEM TO OUR SUPPORTER BASE. ERNA USES GRANT FUNDING TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE THE ELECTORATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, SUCH AS PREPARING AND DISTRIBUTING POLICY PAPERS, AND CONDUCTING NON-ADVOCACY OUTREACH.

    Expenses $10,869,530 · Grants $1,579,725

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Boykin Curry

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joseph Cohen

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Whitney Tilson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Joseph Williams

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jorge Elorza

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $144,133
    From this org
    $131,269
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,864
    Hours/week
    12

  • Thaddecia Smith

    CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER & GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $217,750
    From this org
    $192,217
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,533
    Hours/week
    28

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $178,624
    Bonus
    $13,593
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,783
    Filer's total
    $217,750

  • Patrick Van Keerbergen

    CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $67,844
    From this org
    $58,725
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,119
    Hours/week
    10

  • Charles Barone

    VICE PRESIDENT, POLICY

    Total calculated
    $245,291
    From this org
    $222,575
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,716
    Hours/week
    36

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $205,889
    Bonus
    $16,686
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,250
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,466
    Filer's total
    $245,291

  • Nicole Pollock

    CHIEF OF STAFF AND STRATEGY

    Total calculated
    $235,171
    From this org
    $209,638
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,533
    Hours/week
    28

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $191,998
    Bonus
    $17,640
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,783
    Filer's total
    $235,171

  • Amy Dowell

    CT STATE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $184,990
    From this org
    $182,890
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,100
    Hours/week
    34

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $182,890
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,100
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $184,990

  • Robert Stephens

    CHIEF OF STATE AND REGIONAL IMPACT

    Total calculated
    $190,648
    From this org
    $182,556
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,092
    Hours/week
    28

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $167,436
    Bonus
    $15,120
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,750
    Nontaxable benefits
    $6,342
    Filer's total
    $190,648

  • Jacquelyn Martell

    NY STATE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $194,985
    From this org
    $181,987
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,998
    Hours/week
    32

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $171,571
    Bonus
    $10,416
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $10,998
    Filer's total
    $194,985

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 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 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

  • DFER DC IEC

    $190,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • DFER GA PAC

    $184,747

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • BLUE RISING TOGETHER

    $100,000

    GRANT

  • CITIZENS FOR A GREAT DENVER

    $100,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • DENVER STUDENTS FAMILIES AND TEACHERS UNITED FOR EXCELLENT SCHOOLS

    $85,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • COLORADO COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK ACTION

    $50,000

    SPONSORSHIP

  • DFER MA PAC

    $50,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • THE COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR K-12 STUDENTS

    $50,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

  • COLLECTIVE FUTURE

    $35,000

    GRANT

  • LEGACY 44

    $15,000

    POLITICAL EXPENDITURES

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
8 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202532829349301308

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

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