Form 990 for tax year 2023
Filed by ACE SCHOLARSHIPS ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $59,484,336
- Total expenses
- $58,143,149
- Contributions and grants received
- $55,315,868
- Grants paid
- $42,319,439
- Program service revenue
- $1,000,000
- Investment income
- $2,772,830
- Other revenue
- $395,638
- Total assets, end of year
- $87,152,979
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $995,859
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $86,157,120
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $51,376,880
- Management and general expenses
- $1,954,530
- Fundraising expenses
- $4,811,739
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $51,376,880
Program services were 88.4% 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
$4,218,042
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$51,097,826
-
1g · Noncash contributions included above
$2,165,694
-
2a · Program service revenue: EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCO
total $1,000,000 · related or exempt $1,000,000
-
3 · Investment income
total $2,754,156 · excluded $2,754,156
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $18,553,731
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $18,535,057
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $18,674
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $18,674 · excluded $18,674
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$113,718
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$4,218,042
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$434,367
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$320,649 · excluded -$320,649
-
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS INCOME
total $716,287 · excluded $716,287
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$716,287
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $42,319,439 · program services $42,319,439
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $1,350,265 · program services $431,188 · management and general $479,404 · fundraising $439,673
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $4,908,757 · program services $2,173,779 · management and general $497,475 · fundraising $2,237,503
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $179,847 · program services $83,857 · management and general $14,774 · fundraising $81,216
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $475,452 · program services $178,814 · management and general $63,768 · fundraising $232,870
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $439,201 · program services $188,775 · management and general $65,444 · fundraising $184,982
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $165,834 · program services $142,362 · management and general $23,472
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $164,096 · program services $3,300 · management and general $160,796
-
11d · Fees: lobbying
total $556,465 · program services $556,465
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $139,083 · management and general $139,083
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,391,259 · program services $1,054,261 · management and general $84,579 · fundraising $252,419
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $1,682,113 · program services $828,846 · fundraising $853,267
-
13 · Office expenses
total $190,766 · program services $81,877 · management and general $37,625 · fundraising $71,264
-
14 · Information technology
total $2,947,190 · program services $2,678,877 · management and general $133,121 · fundraising $135,192
-
16 · Occupancy
total $163,977 · program services $62,826 · management and general $50,417 · fundraising $50,734
-
17 · Travel
total $405,597 · program services $186,574 · management and general $42,465 · fundraising $176,558
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $100,170 · program services $37,220 · management and general $15,243 · fundraising $47,707
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $30,084 · program services $11,302 · management and general $9,391 · fundraising $9,391
-
23 · Insurance
total $68,157 · program services $25,606 · management and general $21,274 · fundraising $21,277
-
24a · Other expenses: COMMUNITY OUTREACH
total $311,833 · program services $311,833
-
24b · Other expenses: CREDIT CARD FEES
total $78,452 · management and general $78,452
-
24c · Other expenses: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMEN
total $30,089 · program services $11,281 · management and general $9,296 · fundraising $9,512
-
24d · Other expenses: BANK FEES
total $24,194 · program services $1,000 · management and general $23,194
-
24e · All other expenses
total $20,829 · program services $7,398 · management and general $5,257 · fundraising $8,174
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $3,045,554 · end of year $2,606,019
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $68,942,964 · end of year $71,602,603
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $11,602,599 · end of year $7,326,847
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $149,440 · end of year $1,051,163
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$422,679
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$223,470
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $96,763 · end of year $199,209
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $2,351,103 · end of year $3,540,453
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $370,407 · end of year $826,685
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $621,380 · end of year $995,859
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $484,918 · end of year $0
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $17,580,686 · end of year $10,534,736
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $67,871,846 · end of year $75,622,384
Mission and programs · 2023
Mission
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN OF LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES WITH SCHOLARSHIPS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN GRADES K-12 AND TO ADVOCATE FOR EXPANDED SCHOOL CHOICE.
Activities or mission (Part I)
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE LOWER-INCOME FAMILIES WITH THE POWER OF EDUCATION CHOICE.
-
ACE ADMINISTERS TWO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS: A PRIVATELY FUNDED PROGRAM IN COLORADO, MONTANA, KANSAS, TEXAS, WYOMING, ARKANSAS, DELAWARE, NEW MEXICO, UTAH, MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI, AND A TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, MONTANA AND KANSAS (SGO). (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.) ACE'S PRIVATE PROGRAM AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WANTING PRIVATE SCHOOLING FROM KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL. LOW-INCOME IS DEFINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ADMINISTERING THE PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE ACE PROGRAM COMMITTEE. ACE ALSO SERVES AS A STATE-APPROVED SCHOOL TUITION ORGANIZATION IN THE LOUISIANA TUITION DONATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN ADHERENCE TO STATE STATUTES AND RULES AND REGULATIONS PUBLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. ACE IS ALSO REGISTERED AS A SCHOLARSHIP GRANTING ORGANIZATION (SGO) WITHIN KANSAS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION (SSO) WITHIN MONTANA TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.
Expenses $50,376,880 · Grants $42,319,439
-
ACE IS A PROGRAM MANAGER FOR EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (ESAS). ESAS ARE FUNDED BY STATE GOVERNMENTS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN PAY TUITION FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOLING SUPPLIES, CURRICULUM MATERIALS, OR EDUCATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES. IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, ACE CONTRACTED WITH THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROGRAM MANAGE THEIR STATE FUNDED UTAH FITS ALL (UFA) ESA PROGRAM, WITH 10,000 ESAS WORTH $80 MILLION FUNDED IN JULY OF 2024.
Expenses $1,000,000 · Revenue $1,000,000
As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
JOE SMITH
CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
SCOTT MCLEAN
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
LISA WALSH
VICE CHAIRMAN
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
NATASHA HARRIS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
ERIC KOEPLIN
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MATT TURNER
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
MIKE WARD
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
BERT WILLIAMS
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
LIZ WRIGHT
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
RICK SCHMITZ
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
DEBORAH FLORA
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
NORTON RAINEY
CEO
- Total calculated
- $632,836
- From this org
- $596,392
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $36,444
- Hours/week
- 60
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $388,586
- Bonus
- $207,806
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $12,395
- Nontaxable benefits
- $24,049
- Filer's total
- $632,836
-
JASON DIFRAIA 82022
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $518,632
- From this org
- $484,213
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $34,419
- Hours/week
- 55
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $301,713
- Bonus
- $182,500
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $10,192
- Nontaxable benefits
- $24,227
- Filer's total
- $518,632
-
MIKE PRITCHARD
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $204,589
- From this org
- $184,688
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $19,901
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $144,688
- Bonus
- $40,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,350
- Nontaxable benefits
- $15,551
- Filer's total
- $204,589
-
MELISSA LANDRY
PRESIDENT, LOUISIANA
- Total calculated
- $237,490
- From this org
- $226,225
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $11,265
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $185,852
- Bonus
- $40,373
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $11,043
- Nontaxable benefits
- $222
- Filer's total
- $237,490
-
ERIK BILLINGER
WESTERN REGIONAL PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $294,774
- From this org
- $260,807
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $33,967
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $169,252
- Bonus
- $83,755
- Other
- $7,800
- Deferred
- $9,918
- Nontaxable benefits
- $24,049
- Filer's total
- $294,774
-
BRITTANI O'BRIEN
VP OF DEVELOPMENT, CO
- Total calculated
- $197,070
- From this org
- $180,047
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $17,023
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $132,549
- Bonus
- $47,498
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $3,097
- Nontaxable benefits
- $13,926
- Filer's total
- $197,070
-
MIKE COLEMAN
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $242,138
- From this org
- $221,704
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $20,434
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $164,621
- Bonus
- $57,083
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $10,063
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,371
- Filer's total
- $242,138
-
ROGER PATTINSON
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $248,268
- From this org
- $234,175
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $14,093
- Hours/week
- 45
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $187,919
- Bonus
- $46,256
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $1,652
- Nontaxable benefits
- $12,441
- Filer's total
- $248,268
-
KAREN FARRAND
FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- Total calculated
- $196,223
- From this org
- $190,786
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $5,437
- Hours/week
- 50
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $100,786
- Bonus
- $90,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $4,550
- Nontaxable benefits
- $887
- Filer's total
- $196,223
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 · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
- 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
- 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
- 3 · Compensation committee
- 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
- 3 · Compensation survey or study
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
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
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 1A
- THE ORGANIZATION PAYS MEMBERSHIP DUES TO A GOLF CLUB FOR DEVELOPMENT STAFF. THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP IS USED BY DEVELOPMENT STAFF FOR FUNDRAISING PURPOSES FOR ACE. IF THERE IS ANY PERSONAL USE OF THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP BY STAFF, THEY REIMBURSE ACE FOR THOSE COSTS.
- PART I, LINE 7
- THE AMOUNT OF THE BONUS FOR THE PRESIDENT AND CEO IS DETERMINED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES A POTENTIAL BONUS POOL AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET. IF IT'S DECIDED THAT EMPLOYEE BONUSES WILL BE AWARDED, THEY ARE DETERMINED BY ACE'S EXECUTIVE TEAM.
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.
Related organizations on this return
Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.
-
501(C)(3) · SUPPORT ACE SCHOLARSHIPS · CO
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
Taxable family on this return
Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.
Disregarded entities
Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.
-
EDUCATION · LA · income $8,898,882 · assets $13,574,778
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $1,475,199 · assets $737,305
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $2,819,118 · assets $2,839,698
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $15,771,139 · assets $18,894,216
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $5,612,695 · assets $3,458,067
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $779,856 · assets $1,755,708
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $404,521 · assets $338,139
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $1,557,808 · assets $2,244,542
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $7,916,453 · assets $10,454,044
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
EDUCATION · CO · income $1,230,168 · assets $113,931
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
-
ACE SCHOLARSHIPS DELAWARE
EDUCATION · CO
Directly controlled by ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2023
- Filed
- 13 March 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2023v6.0
- Source object
- 202500749349300615
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