Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND CENTER.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,211,888
Total expenses
$3,186,775
Contributions and grants received
$1,902,402
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,283,469
Investment income
$26,002
Other revenue
$15
Total assets, end of year
$2,196,666
Total liabilities, end of year
$351,214
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,845,452
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,824,268
Management and general expenses
$1,004,814
Fundraising expenses
$357,693
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,824,268

Program services were 57.2% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $68,605

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,833,797

  • 2a · Program service revenue: TUITION & FEES

    total $1,283,469 · related or exempt $1,283,469

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $25,684 · excluded $25,684

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $120,656

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

    securities $120,338

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $318

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $318 · excluded $318

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $27,250

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

    $68,605

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $27,235

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $15 · excluded $15

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $156,553 · program services $102,436 · management and general $36,096 · fundraising $18,021

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,861,065 · program services $1,217,736 · management and general $429,091 · fundraising $214,238

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $157,762 · program services $103,237 · management and general $36,373 · fundraising $18,152

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $160,535 · program services $105,042 · management and general $37,014 · fundraising $18,479

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $13,750 · management and general $13,750

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $193,433 · program services $37,732 · management and general $110,084 · fundraising $45,617

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $78,507 · program services $59,574 · management and general $15,384 · fundraising $3,549

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $5,273 · program services $800 · management and general $1,833 · fundraising $2,640

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $44,800 · program services $44,462 · management and general $338

  • 17 · Travel

    total $8,574 · program services $4,269 · management and general $4,252 · fundraising $53

  • 20 · Interest

    total $19,309 · management and general $19,309

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $62,192 · management and general $62,192

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $211,997 · management and general $211,997

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM AND EQUIPMENT

    total $144,121 · program services $142,251 · management and general $1,870

  • 24b · Other expenses: MISC

    total $34,016 · program services $5 · fundraising $34,011

  • 24c · Other expenses: TELEPHONE AND INTERNET

    total $19,483 · program services $2,130 · management and general $17,353

  • 24d · Other expenses: FOOD

    total $8,263 · program services $1,577 · management and general $5,218 · fundraising $1,468

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $7,142 · program services $3,017 · management and general $2,660 · fundraising $1,465

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $554,143 · end of year $710,023

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $269,110 · end of year $209,110

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $475,706 · end of year $140,727

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $51,759 · end of year $54,219

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

    $545,588

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

    $305,052

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $216,784 · end of year $240,536

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $754,210 · end of year $818,237

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $23,814 · end of year $23,814

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $166,443 · end of year $93,023

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $49,350 · end of year $55,331

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $111,524 · end of year $65,822

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $96,117

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $140,781 · end of year $137,038

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $464,482 · end of year $791,435

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,316,829 · end of year $1,054,017

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL IS TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH CHALLENGE AND DISCOVERY. IN 1992, PHILADELPHIA LEADERS, INCLUDING FORMER PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER, ESTABLISHED THE PHILADELPHIA OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL (POBS) TO INSPIRE AND EQUIP OUR REGION'S YOUNG PEOPLE TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE THROUGH OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAMS AND EXPEDITIONS THAT BUILD CHARACTER, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP, AND FOSTER AN ETHIC OF SERVICE TO ONE'S COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, TODAY, THE ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF 11 INDEPENDENT AND LOCALLY OPERATED SCHOOLS CHARTERED BY OUTWARD BOUND USA. POBS IS THE FIRST OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL IN THE U.S. AND THE SECOND IN THE WORLD TO EARN RIGOROUS ACCREDITATION FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION (AEE).

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO SERVE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS THROUGH ACTIVE LEARNING EXPEDITIONS THAT INSPIRE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, SELF-DISCOVERY AND SERVICE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

  • POBS PROVIDES PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC, CHARTER, AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, AND NORTHERN DELAWARE. POBS ALSO OFFERS SPECIALIZED COURSES FOR EDUCATORS, VETERANS, AND GRIEVING TEENS. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, POBS HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY, FROM SERVING 48 YOUTH IN 1993 TO SERVING OVER 7,500 YOUTH AND ADULTS IN 2024. APPROXIMATELY 80% OF POBS STUDENTS COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN PHILADELPHIA, AND 75% ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOLS. POBS SINGLE-DAY AND MULTI-DAY OUTDOOR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS IN CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND BUILD CHARACTER, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL, IN THEIR CAREERS, AND IN LIFE. IN 2024, OVER 7,500 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, INCLUDING: - INSIGHT COURSES ARE ONE-DAY SESSIONS AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER'S AERIAL TEAMS CHALLENGE COURSE WHERE PARTICIPANTS OVERCOME FEARS, LEARN TO WORK TOGETHER, AND LEAVE WITH A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THEIR POTENTIAL - PEER LEADERSHIP EXPEDITIONS ARE WEEK-LONG COURSES THAT ENGAGE PARTICIPANTS WITH PEERS IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL SKILLS. - "GET OUT AND LEAD" IS A MERIT-AWARD BASED 10-DAY EXPEDITION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE PA WILDERNESS. - YOUTH LEADERSHIP CORPS IS A MERIT-AWARD BASED 14-DAY EXPEDITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT FEATURES BACKPACKING, CANOEING, AND ROCK-CLIMBING IN THE PA WILDERNESS. POBS SPECIALTY PROGRAMS. - GRIEVING TEENS ARE SPECIALTY EXPEDITION COURSES FOR YOUTH AGES 14-17 WHO HAVE SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC LOSS. - IN 2023-24 POBS AND AUDUBON MID-ATLANTIC PILOTED A 10-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO EXPOSE FIVE PHILADELPHIA STUDENTS TO NATURE AND THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN LOCAL CONSERVATION, WATERSHED PROTECTION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND CAREER EXPLORATION. POBS ALSO ORGANIZES PROGRAMS TARGETED AT SUPPORTING SPECIFIC ADULT POPULATIONS, INCLUDING: - EDUCATORS EXPEDITIONS DEVELOP EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONAL SKILLS THAT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TAKE BACK INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS. - OUTWARD BOUND FOR VETERANS EXPEDITIONS HELP VETERANS BUILD PEER NETWORKS AND ASSIST IN POST-DEPLOYMENT ADJUSTMENT TO LIFE AT HOME. A TOP PRIORITY FOR POBS IN 2024 HAS BEEN TO DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS FROM STRAWBERRY MANSION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT SURROUNDS OUR HEADQUARTERS IN THE WORLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITY, THE DISCOVERY CENTER, IN EAST FAIRMOUNT PARK. THE CENTER ENABLES POBS TO MEET RISING DEMAND FOR ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVE MORE STUDENTS THAN IT HAS YET IN ITS HISTORY. THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS A JOINT VENTURE WITH NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY AFFILIATE AUDUBON MID ATLANTIC, AND IS ONE-OF-A KIND CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. OVERLOOKING A 37-ACRE LAKE, THE DISCOVERY CENTER FEATURES INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, EXHIBITIONS, TRAILS, HIGH ROPES COURSE, CLIMBING WALL, AND BIRD WATCHING LOOK-OUTS. THE DISCOVERY CENTER IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND TO THE PUBLIC AND IN 2024 POBS AND AUDUBON ORGANIZED 12 WEEKEND EVENTS DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS' RESPECTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

    Expenses $1,824,268 · Revenue $1,283,469

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

Listed in Part VII

  • Justin Ennis

    EXECUTIVE DI

    Total calculated
    $156,553
    From this org
    $142,781
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,772
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $142,781
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $13,772
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $156,553

  • John K Frisbee

    DIRECTOR OF

    Total calculated
    $110,063
    From this org
    $103,710
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,353
    Hours/week
    40

  • Jennel Johnson

    DIRECTOR OF

    Total calculated
    $109,751
    From this org
    $103,410
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,341
    Hours/week
    40

  • Matt Norcini

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Allison Martin Nguyen

    VICE CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Donald Mobley

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kate Fitzgerald

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tim Greenwood Jr

    CO-FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nancy Goldenberg

    CO-FOUNDER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jon Conant

    EMERITUS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Haslam

    EMERITUS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jamie McLane

    EMERITUS

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Adams

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jim Bodine

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Philip J Charron

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Steven Chintaman

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Keenan Corrigan

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nyron Crawford

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Cory Dulaney

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • John D'Anna

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Dr Crystal Edwards

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Kahn

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Danielle Merritt EdD

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Gregory Miraglia

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Nancy Peterson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Homer Robinson

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kimberly Togman

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Bryan Tracy

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Michael Van Pelt

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kellan White

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mitchell Young

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Claire Robertson-Kraft

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · Independent compensation consultant

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

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.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
29 July 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.0
Source object
202522109349301542

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

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.