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Nonprofiteer
← EDUCATION REFORM NOW INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by EDUCATION REFORM NOW INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$5,733,247
Total expenses
$13,628,995
Contributions and grants received
$5,317,728
Grants paid
$8,077,458
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$95,701
Other revenue
$319,818
Total assets, end of year
$9,401,046
Total liabilities, end of year
$485,906
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$8,915,140
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$10,236,313
Management and general expenses
$1,692,890
Fundraising expenses
$1,699,792
Program service expenses (Part III)
$10,236,313

Program services were 75.1% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $466,400

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,851,328

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $95,701 · excluded $95,701

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $1,009,128

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

    $466,400

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $690,724

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $318,404 · excluded $318,404

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $1,414 · excluded $1,414

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $1,414

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $8,077,458 · program services $8,077,458

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $633,161 · program services $288,053 · management and general $121,839 · fundraising $223,269

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,404,819 · management and general $612,780 · fundraising $792,039

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $12,520 · program services $1,343 · management and general $4,940 · fundraising $6,237

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $107,141 · management and general $53,764 · fundraising $53,377

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $116,737 · program services $15,657 · management and general $42,922 · fundraising $58,158

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $90,735 · management and general $90,735

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $48,218 · management and general $48,218

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $180,116 · program services $25,839 · management and general $132,395 · fundraising $21,882

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $241,096 · fundraising $241,096

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,342,597 · program services $1,176,409 · management and general $157,688 · fundraising $8,500

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $13,870 · program services $7,443 · management and general $5,705 · fundraising $722

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $278,469 · program services $94,895 · management and general $174,348 · fundraising $9,226

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $61,564 · program services $3,062 · management and general $31,656 · fundraising $26,846

  • 17 · Travel

    total $258,912 · program services $121,535 · management and general $58,688 · fundraising $78,689

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $508,364 · program services $229,210 · management and general $128,894 · fundraising $150,260

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $19,432 · program services $13,603 · management and general $2,331 · fundraising $3,498

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $20,406 · program services $14,284 · management and general $2,449 · fundraising $3,673

  • 24a · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $57,419 · program services $11,561 · management and general $23,538 · fundraising $22,320

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $155,961 · program services $155,961

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,823,991 · end of year $4,518,118

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $5,641,996 · end of year $4,422,341

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,894,185 · end of year $339,500

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $148,809 · end of year $99,200

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

    $136,927

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

    $117,280

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $27,948 · end of year $19,647

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $940 · end of year $2,240

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $732,036 · end of year $485,906

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,714,346 · end of year $5,769,068

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $8,091,487 · end of year $3,146,072

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION CHANGE AT BOTH THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT EVERY STAGE FROM K-12 TO HIGHER-ED TO ENSURE AMERICANS OF ALL AGES, FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE, GAINS FULL AND FAIR ACCESS TO A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT EMPOWERS THEM TO FULFILL THEIR LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

Activities or mission (Part I)

DRIVE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT STIMULATE THE CREATION OF NEW, ACCOUNTABLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

  • EDUCATION REFORM NOW, INC. (ERN) WORKS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND PUT FORTH IDEAS AROUND PUBLIC EDUCATION POLICY. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL ERN BUILDS A DURABLE NETWORK OF PROGRESSIVE CHAMPIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL POLICYMAKING ARENA TO EXPAND WHAT WORKS AND CHANGE WHAT IS BROKEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH A FOCUS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR. ERN'S WORK IS FOCUSED IN THE FOLLOWING BROAD AREAS: POLICY ACTION, LEADERSHIP NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND COALITION BUILDING. WITHIN POLICY ACTION ERN'S PRIMARY GOAL IS TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL STUDENT-CENTERED POLICIES FOCUSING ON STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE, RESOURCE EQUITY, TEACHER PREPARATION, AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS AND PERSISTENCE. TO FACILITATE CHANGE IN K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION ERN EMPOWERS AND CONNECTS A NETWORK OF DIVERSE "ON THE GROUND" LEADERS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS TO DRIVE CHANGE, LEVERAGE ALLIANCES, AND TO MULTIPLY IMPACT. ERN USES MAJOR MEDIA AND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS TO ACTIVATE AUDIENCES AND ELEVATE ALIGNED VOICES. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH DIVERSE COALITIONS ERN SEEKS TO INFORM AND MOBILIZE VOTERS TO INCREASE CIVIC PARTICIPATION AROUND THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION REFORM.

    Expenses $10,236,313 · Grants $8,077,458

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Javaid Siddiqi

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Emily Kim

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • John Sabat

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • John Petry

    CO-PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Sabat

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Boykin Curry

    CO-PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Whitney Tilson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jim Anderson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Bluhm

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Meghan MacKay

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jorge Elorza

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $336,311
    From this org
    $306,294
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,017
    Hours/week
    28

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $306,294
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,017
    Filer's total
    $336,311

  • Thaddecia Smith

    CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER & GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $93,320
    From this org
    $82,378
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,942
    Hours/week
    12

  • Patrick Van Keerbergen

    CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $203,530
    From this org
    $176,174
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,356
    Hours/week
    30

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,424
    Bonus
    $14,750
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,875
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,481
    Filer's total
    $203,530

  • Harrison Farnsworth

    VICE PRESIDENT, CAMPAIGNS

    Total calculated
    $129,739
    From this org
    $121,698
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,041
    Hours/week
    24

  • Tykia Warden

    VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $181,434
    From this org
    $179,434
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,000
    Hours/week
    32

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,434
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $181,434

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

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
202532829349300048

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