Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$2,202,942

Total expenses

$2,286,670

Contributions and grants received

$2,091,510

Grants paid

$515,714

Program service revenue

$24,195

Investment income

$70,352

Other revenue

$16,885

Total assets, end of year

$2,710,370

Total liabilities, end of year

$43,034

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$2,667,336

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,968,727

Management and general expenses

$101,195

Fundraising expenses

$216,748

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,968,727

Program services were 86.1% 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.

Mission and programs · 2023

• CRITICAL RESPONSE: DPSF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND: THIS YEAR WE GAVE OUT OVER $5,500 DIRECTLY TO SCHOOL FAMILIES IN NEED OF EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING EVADING EVICTION, PROVIDING EMERGENCY UTILITY SUPPORT, PROVIDING ESSENTIALS, ETC. OVER $2,000 WAS AWARDED DIRECTLY TO MCKINNEY-VENTO WITHIN DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DISPLACEMENT. THE WHOLE SCHOOLS MOVEMENT - MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ESSENTIAL FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING, AND WE CONTINUED OUR WHOLE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND DUKE HEALTH. THE WHOLE SCHOOLS MODEL SCHOOLS PILLAR IS FOCUSED ON PILOTING AND REFINING INNOVATIVE SCHOOL-WIDE STRATEGIES AT TWO SCHOOLS AS WELL AS DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING LANGUAGE. OUR MODEL SCHOOLS (NEAL MIDDLE & SOUTHERN SCHOOL OF ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY) HAVE CONTINUED TO BE KEY PARTNERS IN BUILDING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO SHIFT AN ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED AND PROVIDE FOR A FULL-TIME WELL-BEING SPECIALIST WITHIN DPS TO ENHANCE STUDENT AND STAFF SUPPORT. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL LEADERS TO PLAN AND OFFER PROGRAMS LIKE A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING DAY AT NEAL THAT INCLUDED "TEACHER TAP OUTS" - WHEN A TEACHER CAN ASK FOR A GUIDED WELLNESS ACTIVITY LED BY OUR TEAM, WHILE THEY ATTEND TO A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIOANL MATTER.THE WHOLE SCHOOL MOVEMENT'S MENTAL HEALTH AMBASSADORS (MHAS) PILLAR IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN INDIVIDUALS TO BE LEADERS IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, HELPING BUILD AND FOSTER A MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CULTURE. IN THEIR ROLE, THEY HELP TO DESTIGMATIZE MENTAL HEALTH AND CONNECT THEIR PEERS AND/OR THEIR STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL-BASED AND/OR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, AS NEEDED. THIS YEAR WE SUPPORTED, COACHED, AND TRAINED 31 EDUCATORS ACROSS 10 DPS SCHOOLS (INCLUDING 5 ELEMENTARY, 1 MIDDLE, AND 4 HIGH SCHOOLS) IN THE FIRST TWO EDUCATOR COHORTS, IMPROVED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES.THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PILLAR PROVIDES NO-COST TRAINING, EVENTS, AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND HEALING FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES ACROSS DURHAM. IN ADDITION, IT OFFERS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EXPLORE VARIOUS DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS. THE GOAL IS TO FOSTER WELLNESS TO (A) INCREASE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH; (B) IMPROVE SKILLS FOR MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH; AND (C) CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. THROUGH THIS EFFORT DPSF HOSTED OVER 500+ DPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS KEY EVENTS, INCLUDING THE HEALTHY MINDS, STRONGER SCHOOLS CONFERENCE, WHOLE-ISTIC WELLNESS FAIR, WHOLE-ISTIC HEALING FESTIVAL, AND DPS FEST CONNECTING FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TO VITAL WELLNESS RESOURCES, OUR TEAM ALSO DEVELOPED THE THRIVE GUIDE TO PROVIDE PRACTICAL STRATEGIES, REDUCE STIGMA, AND BUILD SHARED LANGUAGE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. WE WORKED WITH UNC MPH CAPSTONE STUDENTS WHO WERE IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM OVER THE LAST YEAR AND PRODUCED AN IMPRESSIVE BODY OF WORK THROUGH THEIR CAPSTONE DELIVERABLES. THE WHOLE SCHOOLS FUND PILLAR PROVIDES INTEGRATED SUPPORT, CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, AND PEER-BASED LEARNING TO GRANT RECIPIENTS (A GROUP WHICH INCLUDES STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND CAREGIVERS). DPSF STAFF PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTEES TO MEET AS A COHORT TO ENGAGE WITH A TOPIC THAT IS RELATED TO THEIR WORK. DPSF ALSO PROVIDES A SPACE FOR GRANTEES TO CHECK-IN, NETWORK, AND PROVIDE UPDATES ON THEIR PROGRESS AND/OR ANY BARRIERS THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING IN THEIR WORK. FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, $112,396 WAS AWARDED TO FUND 27 PROJECTS ACROSS 26 SCHOOLS. GRANT AWARDS RANGED FROM $1,000 TO A MAXIMUM OF $15,000 FOR EACH FUNDED APPLICATION/PROJECT.

  Expenses $667,030 · Grants $339,065

• CHAMPIONING PUBLIC EDUCATION - THE DURHAM COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND CELEBRATES OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DURHAM'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS REFLECT THE RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF DURHAM AND EMBODY CULTURES AND PRACTICES THAT EQUITABLY SERVE EVERY STUDENT. IN 2023-24, WE ONBOARDED 3 VISTA MEMBERS FOR THE FOLLOWING ROLES: VOLUNTEER AND EVENTS COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, AND CORPORATE VOLUNTEER AND DPS ALUM COORDINATOR. THE VISTAS ENHANCED OUR WORK IN AND WITH DPS, ADDING TEAM CAPACITY FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND ALSO CREATED A PATH FOR DPS VOLUNTEERISM.GROWING TOGETHER: IN FY 23/24, WE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ENROLLMENT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DPS AND THE DPS GROWING TOGETHER INITIATIVE. GROWING TOGETHER IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CURRENT REDISTRICTING PLANS. WE SUPPORTED THEM IN THIS WORK THROUGH A) A YARD-SIGN CAMPAIGN FOR TEN HIGH-PRIORITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AT RISK OF LOSING SIGNIFICANT ENROLLMENT, B) BY CREATING A WEBSITE THAT SHARED HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS WELL TESTIMONIALS FROM EDUCATORS AND PARENTS AT EACH SCHOOL, AND C) BY INCENTIVIZING ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS TO KNOCK DOORS IN THEIR ATTENDANCE ZONES TO RECRUIT FAMILIES TO THEIR SCHOOLS.ADVOCACY: OUR LATINE PARENT COLLECTIVE CONTINUES TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COALITION EVERY CHILD NC. AS A RESULT OF THIS CONTINUED COLLABORATION, THE PARENT COLLECTIVE HELPED PLAN AND PARTICIPATED IN THREE ACTION DAYS IN RALEIGH TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION. ADDITIONALLY THE PARENT COLLECTIVE JOINED FORCES WITH DURHAM CAN TO ADVOCATE FOR FREE UNIVERSAL LUNCH FOR ALL STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

  Expenses $525,951 · Grants $57,790

• INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE: OUR STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO DRIVE MEANINGFUL CHANGES THAT ADDRESS CHALLENGES THEY IDENTIFY IN THEIR SCHOOLS. GREAT EDUCATORS CHOOSE TO WORK AND STAY IN DPS BECAUSE THEY FEEL VALUED AS PROFESSIONALS AND ARE PROVIDED MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO GROW AND INNOVATE. IN 23/24, WE DEEPENED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DPS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEAM BY A) MEMBERSHIP IN THEIR BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, B) DONATING TO AND SERVING AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE ACCELER8 CAREER EXPOSURE EVENT, C) ADDING BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL WORKDAYS AND DONATED FUNDS, AND D) SUPPORTING DPS SENIOR STAFF TO ATTEND THE DURHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERCITY VISIT WITH OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OF PARTNERSHIPS.COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - WE COMPLETED OUR FOURTH SCHOLARSHIP CYCLE THIS YEAR, AWARDING $61,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO 27 GRADUATING DPS SENIORS. WE CONTINUE TO HONE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS AND OUTREACH TO SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE HAD FEWER APPLICANTS. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS RECEIVED INCREASED BY 20% THIS YEAR. WE'VE HIRED AN INTERN TO HELP GIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAM. THEY'VE ALSO PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS NAVIGATING OUR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS REVIEWING APPLICATIONS. TEACHER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - THE DPSF TLA CREATES A PIPELINE OF TEACHER LEADERS IN DPS WHO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN DRIVING CHANGE IN THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GROUNDED IN THE HISTORY AND CURRENT CONTEXT OF INEQUITY IN DURHAM AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT GUIDES THEIR WORK IN ADVANCING MORE EQUITABLE SCHOOLS. THE CURRENT COHORT CONSISTS OF 4 DPS TEACHERS WHO TEACH IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM RANGES FROM 7 YEARS TO 25 YEARS, AND THEY'VE WORKED OVER TWO YEARS TO USE THOSE EXPERIENCES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW SOCIAL ISSUES, PUBLIC SYSTEMS AND GOODS, AND STUDENTS' BACKGROUNDS AND CUSTOMS ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THEIR EDUCATION. THESE TEACHER LEADERS HAVE COMPLETED OVER 50 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING DURHAM EDUCATION HISTORY, THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY ON SCHOOLS, AND IMPLICIT BIAS WITHIN THEIR CURRICULUM. THESE 4 TEACHERS ARE TAKING WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED AND DIRECTLY IMPACTING OVER 300 DPS STUDENTS. THEY WILL WORK AND PRESENT A PROBLEM OF PRACTICE THROUGH THE LENS OF A TEACHER LEADER AND THE SOLUTIONS THEY'VE FOUND TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.SCHOOL-LEVEL GRANTS - THE DPSF GRANTS PROGRAM AIMS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, COLLABORATION, SUSTAINABLE IMPACT, AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AND RESOURCES FOR DPS STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE MOST HISTORICALLY HARMED BY SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION. THROUGH OUR COHORT MODEL, THE ANNUAL GRANTS CYCLE COMPRISES TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, INNOVATION GRANTS AND THE WHOLE SCHOOLS FUND. AVAILABLE IN THE FALL OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, INNOVATION GRANTS ARE OPEN ONLY TO DPS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, AND/OR CAREGIVERS FOR PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY CENTER AND IMPACT THEIR SCHOOL OR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. INNOVATION GRANTS FUND PROJECTS AIMED AT INCREASING EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN DPS SCHOOLS.THIS YEAR, WE FUNDED $121,257 ACROSS 27 SCHOOLS SUPPORTING 42 PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORTED PROJECTS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AMOUNTING TO ANOTHER $15,000 IN SUPPORT TO DPS. WE ALSO AWARDED $13,000 IN SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS FOR DPS STUDENTS THROUGH THE SUMMER JOY FUND. OUR DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAM, A GRANT FUNDED INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY, HOSTS DPS PARENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO INVEST IN THEIR OWN COMPUTER SKILLS. THE COURSE WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE FOUNDATIONAL AND PROFICIENT COMPUTER SKILLS, WHILE ALSO LEARNING THE DIFFERENT TOOLS USED WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR PARENTS TO COMMUNICATE AND ENGAGE. IN 2023-2024 WE HOSTED 5 ROUNDS OF THE 5-WEEK COURSE.

  Expenses $422,558 · Grants $108,804 · Revenue $1,695

• EQUITY THROUGH INNOVATION - STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO CREATE INNOVATIVE, TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ENSURE ALL OUR STUDENTS NOT ONLY ATTEND SCHOOL TOGETHER, BUT THRIVE TOGETHER. WE HELPED BUILD POWER AMONG PARENTS-OF-COLOR AND SUPPORTED TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS IN CENTERING EQUITY IN THEIR SCHOOLS.COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INCUBATOR - BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS RECOMMEND CONDUCTING COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS AND ASSETS ASSESSMENTS EVERY 3-4 YEARS. THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE FOLLOWED BY AN ANALYSIS TO SET PRIORITIES, ENSURING THAT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS STUDENTS' SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, HEALTH, AND ACADEMIC NEEDS. DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS (DPS) COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COMPLETED THEIR ASSESSMENTS IN FY 23 AND SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAINED OR EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS BASED ON UPDATED AND RELEVANT NEEDS DURING FY 24. ACROSS THE THREE SCHOOLS, 33 SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WERE ACTIVELY PROVIDING SERVICES AND STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AT DPSF IS DONE THROUGH A FRAMEWORK OF SCHOOL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. THIS IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH WHERE FAMILIES CAN LEARN TO SUSTAINABLY GROW HEALTHY FOOD, CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF THEIR CULTURE, USE AN INNOVATION GRANT TO ENJOY THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE, BE MODELS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, BE PART OF ONE OF OUR TUTORING PROGRAMS, ALL WHILE ADVOCATING FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN IN DPS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR DPS PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND ORGANIZE AS WE SUPPORT THE WHOLE FAMILY. OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE HOMEWORK WITH AMIGOS, A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DURHAM COUNTY LIBRARY AND THE DUKE SERVICE LEARNING PROGRAM AND LEAP TUTORING; ALIANZA POR LA EDUCACIN (PARENT ADVOCACY), IN WHICH LATINX PARENT LEADERS WORK TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SCHOOLS; AND SEMBRANDO RAICES, WHICH BEGAN AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR LATINX FAMILIES ON THE GROUNDS OF ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, CLUB BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY. THE INITIAL MISSION OF SEMBRANDO RAICES WAS TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY FOR WORKING-CLASS LATINX FAMILIES, A NEED THAT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IN RECENT YEARS. AS THE PROGRAM HAS EVOLVED, SEMBRANDO RAICES HAS BECOME A SAFE, PUBLIC SPACE WHERE OVER 30 WORKING-CLASS LATINX FAMILIES GATHER EVERY FRIDAY FROM MARCH TO NOVEMBER TO TEND THE GARDEN, HARVEST AND SHARE FOOD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, DISCUSS AND ORGANIZE AROUND THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES. EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY CONTINUES TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE WORK. OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS TO INCREASE THEIR IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY.

  Expenses $353,188 · Grants $10,056 · Revenue $22,102

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

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.

Grants on this return

• DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  $237,951

  SCHOOL-LEVEL GRANTS

• THE EMPRESS HAVEN

  $7,500

  SCHOOL-LEVEL GRANT (CC SPAULDING)

• ECHO SYSTEM

  $7,500

  SPONSORSHIP - TEEN ENTREPRENEURS TACKLING CHILDHOOD HUNGER

• URBAN SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

  $6,660

  SCHOOL-LEVEL GRANT (EK POWE)

• EMPOWERING EDUCATION INC

  $6,000

  SCHOOL-LEVEL GRANT (HILLSIDE)

• TEACHER WAREHOUSE INC

  $5,000

  EDUCATOR SUPPLIES

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

9 May 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202511339349307176

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