Idea Public Schools
92% goes to programs $0 to raise $100 Growing revenue
Idea Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Weslaco, Texas, registered in 2000, with $1,170,472,250 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A+, and it directs about 92% of spending to programs.
2115 W Pike Blvd, Weslaco, TX, 78596 EIN 74-2948339 Since 2000
Revenue (FY2023)
$1.2B
▲ 16.8% vs prior year
Education median: $200K
Expenses (FY2023)
$1.0B
Net assets
$469.8M
Employees
12,596
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A+
A+Program efficiency40% of the rating92% to programs · $0 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Idea Public Schools: 92% to programs · $0 to raise $100 earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating5 mo reserves · +12% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Idea Public Schools: 5 mo reserves · +12% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Idea Public Schools: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Idea Public Schools: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Idea public schools transforms education by preparing graduates to succeed in college and life.
Contact & location
- Address
- 2115 W Pike Blvd, Weslaco, TX, 78596
- City
- Weslaco
- State
- Texas
- Category
- Education
- Subcategory
- Elementary & Secondary Schools
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $170.0M (FY2013) to $1.2B (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $1.5BNet assets $469.8M
Operating margin
11.9%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$2.0B
Total liabilities
$1.5B
Net assets
$469.8M
Salaries & benefits
$689.8M
67% of expenses
Board members
7
7 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1,170,472,250▲16.8% | $1,031,225,340▲6.8% | $469,838,888▲27.5% | $2,009,168,611▲6.6% | 990 |
| 2022 | $1,001,943,024▲5.3% | $965,895,627▲5.5% | $368,635,762▲2.4% | $1,885,164,463▲0.7% | 990 |
| 2021 | $951,130,243▲15.7% | $915,595,156▲23.3% | $360,107,157▲10.8% | $1,872,347,488▲8.5% | 990 |
| 2020 | $822,040,599▲23.6% | $742,490,040▲22.1% | $325,095,545▲32.9% | $1,725,652,293▲16.5% | 990 |
| 2019 | $665,304,414▲24.9% | $607,925,666▲23.1% | $244,694,014▲30.8% | $1,480,680,871▲30.9% | 990 |
| 2018 | $532,847,536▲26.2% | $493,910,106▲26.5% | $187,016,282▲26.8% | $1,131,490,251▲26.6% | 990 |
| 2017 | $422,378,039▲27.0% | $390,430,413▲24.3% | $147,451,548▲27.7% | $893,444,366▲31.4% | 990 |
| 2016 | $332,600,606▲24.1% | $314,019,596▲27.0% | $115,503,922▲19.2% | $680,172,540▲22.0% | 990 |
| 2015 | $267,902,705▲28.7% | $247,203,046▲27.4% | $96,922,912▲27.2% | $557,614,942▲25.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $208,211,308▲22.5% | $194,080,469▲24.5% | $76,223,253▲22.8% | $445,062,758▲24.9% | 990 |
| 2013 | $169,959,937 | $155,916,488▲65.9% | $62,092,414▲94.7% | $356,448,342▲93.6% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $93,998,049▲30.3% | $31,886,286▲66.0% | $184,130,121▲25.0% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $72,120,429▲26.3% | $19,207,103▲47.7% | $147,351,897▲47.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $57,106,742 | $13,005,427 | $99,800,411 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Jeffrey Cottrill — $344,586 (0.03% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Cottrill | Superintendent & Ceo | 35 | $344,586 |
| Dolores Gonzalez | Chief Program Officer | 40 | $324,579 |
| Cody Grindle | President | 40 | $285,823 |
| Martin Winchester | Chief Human Assets Officer | 40 | $280,760 |
| Layne Fisher | Chief Operating Officer | 35 | $265,115 |
| Phillip Garza | Chief College Officer | 40 | $261,712 |
| Jill Dominguez | Area Superintendent | 40 | $253,596 |
| Ernesto Cantu | Chief Schools Officer | 40 | $253,385 |
| Jessica Hess | Chief Governance Officer | 40 | $233,217 |
| Andrea Fernandez | Area Superintendent | 40 | $223,066 |
| Angie Arismendi | Executive Director - San Antonio | 40 | $222,951 |
| Bethany Solis | Executive Director - Permian Basin | 40 | $217,921 |
| Jeremy Beard | Executive Director | 40 | $206,628 |
| Frankie Gray | Executive Director - El Paso | 40 | $201,945 |
| Alex Anzaldua | Senior Vp of Schools - Rgvr | 40 | $201,014 |
| Leanne Hernandez | Chief Financial Officer (to 11/23) | 35 | $200,076 |
| Dionel Waters | Area Superintendent | 40 | $198,708 |
| Erica Matamoros | Senior Vp of Schools - Rgvr | 40 | $195,119 |
| Christina Flores | Senior Executive Principal | 40 | $193,570 |
| Israel Ybarra | Vp of School Development | 40 | $192,945 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Kokua Education Inc | Substitute Teaching Professionals | $14,420,972 |
| D Wilson Construction Company | Construction | $13,984,244 |
| Banes General Contractors Inc | Construction | $10,130,342 |
| Xmedia Group LLC | Marketing | $7,968,561 |
| Modern Contractors Inc | Construction | $5,362,165 |
Grants received · $34.9M total
72 grants to Idea Public Schools totaling $34.9M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50can Inc | To support summer boost | 2024 | $2,266,000 |
| Charter Fund Inc | Charter school capacity-building | 2024 | $1,100,000 |
| Servant Foundation | Education | 2024 | $120,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $7,411 |
| 50can Inc | To support summer boost | 2023 | $1,222,072 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $20,700 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $20,250 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | General | 2022 | $50,000 |
| Dallas Jewish Community Foundation | Educational | 2022 | $25,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2022 | $15,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2022 | $15,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2022 | $10,000 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Education | 2022 | $10,000 |
| Greater Houston Community Foundation | Educational | 2021 | $70,000 |
| Community Foundation of North Texas | As 2021 grant installment | 2021 | $56,250 |
Grants made · $20K in FY2021
2 grants totaling $20K in FY2021. All grants made by Idea Public Schools →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| District Charter Alliance | Educational support | $10,000 |
| Charro Days Inc | Educational support | $10,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Idea Public Schools a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Idea Public Schools is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 74-2948339, based in Weslaco, Texas. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Idea Public Schools's EIN?
- Idea Public Schools's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 74-2948339.
- How much revenue does Idea Public Schools report?
- Idea Public Schools reported $1,170,472,250 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Idea Public Schools's spending goes to programs?
- Idea Public Schools spends about 92% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Idea Public Schools have?
- CharityIndex grades Idea Public Schools A+, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Idea Public Schools's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Idea Public Schools's latest Form 990 is $344,586, paid to Jeffrey Cottrill (Superintendent & Ceo).
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Data for Idea Public Schools (EIN 74-2948339) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.