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Nonprofit · EIN 23-7035089

THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION

Also known as N F I E

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Financials

$3.2M$5.9M2022$6.7M$6.2M2023$6.8M$6.8M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
August 31, 2025990$6,815,298$6,770,078$45,220$56,235,764$2,697,324$53,538,440
August 31, 2024990$6,658,255$6,194,524$463,731$52,733,359$2,249,451$50,483,908
August 31, 2023990$3,234,576$5,860,697-$2,626,121$47,215,857$2,364,054$44,851,803
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$4,780,157
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$2,035,141
Net gain from sales of assets
$1,721,846
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$2,244,472
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$819,236
Other salaries and wages
$1,345,123
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,621,160
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$17,195
Accounting fees
$33,280
Occupancy
$7,500
Travel
$512,681
Depreciation
$10,365
Program services (functional)
$5,444,703
Management and general (functional)
$892,048
Fundraising (functional)
$433,327

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$52,733,359
Total assets, end of year
$56,235,764
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,697,324
Net assets, end of year
$53,538,440
Land, buildings and equipment
$73,646
Publicly traded securities
$15,613,499
Net assets without donor restrictions
$52,325,454
Net assets with donor restrictions
$1,212,986
Gross receipts
$7,562,349
Employees
21
Volunteers
24
Year formed
1969
State of legal domicile
DC

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SARA SNEEDPRESIDENT & CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
37.5$304,983$50,491
MARGARET PORTACOIO
Officer
37.5$187,181$54,203
ERIC JAMESCFAO
Officer
37.5$192,796$20,631
KATHERINE GIBNEYSVP OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
37.5$158,402$48,197
ALEXANDER WILKINSVP OF FINANCE & ADMIN
Highest-paid employee
37.5$103,822$20,618
NICK ARCHULETACHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
OLETA GARRETT FITZGERALDVICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TIA DOWDELLSECRETARY-TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
ARTHUR AFFLECKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
AARO JEAN BELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAAIYAH BILAL-THREATSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET CONKLINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BERTIS DOWNSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA ENGELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERICA WEBBER JONESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
14 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JOANNE KRELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
STUART LUCASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BRENT MCKIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARC MOORGHENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROGER POLLAKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BECKY PRINGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JANE QUINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MARCY SINGER-GABELLADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DENISE SHEEHANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DERRON WALLACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MONICA WASHINGTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JERRY WEASTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROSS WIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
CICELY WOODARDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 29 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SARA SNEEDPRESIDENT & CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
37.5$292,844$48,462
MARGARET PORTACOIO
Officer
37.5$175,149$50,274
KATHERINE GIBNEYSVP OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
37.5$154,191$43,683
ERIC JAMESCFAO
Officer
37.5$178,529$19,173
ANDREW GRABELSVP OF COMMS. (UNTIL 6/18/24)
Highest-paid employee
37.5$132,399$14,527
NICK ARCHULETACHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
VALERIA LASSITERIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
OLETA GARRETT FITZGERALDVICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JOY WHITLOWSECRETARY-TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
AARO JEAN BELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAAIYAH BILAL-THREATSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET CONKLINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIA DOWDELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BERTIS DOWNSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA ENGELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERICA WEBBER JONESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOANNE KRELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
STUART LUCASDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRENT MCKIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PEDRO NOGUERADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROGER POLLAKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BECKY PRINGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JANE QUINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARCY SINGER-GABELLADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DENISE SHEEHANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DERRON WALLACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MONICA WASHINGTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JERRY WEASTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROSS WIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 30 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
SARA SNEEDPRESIDENT & CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
37.5$288,014$46,754
ELIZABETH SCHNIEDERCOSI (UNTIL 2/2023)
Highest-paid employee
37.5$185,527$64,354
MARGARET PORTACOO
Officer
37.5$166,088$46,355
ANDREW GRABELSVP OF COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
37.5$131,717$14,365
PAMELA PINKETTINTERIM CFO (1/1-7/14/2022)
Officer
37.5$128,327$14,027
ERIC JAMESCFO (EXCEPT 1/1-7/14/2022)
Officer
37.5$81,269$541
VALERIA LASSITERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
NICK ARCHULETAVICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
JOY WHITLOWSECRETARY-TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
AARO JEAN BELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAAIYAH BILAL-THREATSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRET CONKLINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIA DOWDELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BERTIS DOWNSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA ENGELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
OLETA GARRETT FITZGERALDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERICA WEBBER JONESDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JOANNE KRELLDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRENT MCKIMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PEDRO NOGUERADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JEROME PAIGEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROGER POLLAKDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BECKY PRINGLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JANE QUINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DENISE SHEEHANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MARCY SINGER-GABELLADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DERRON WALLACEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MONICA WASHINGTONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JERRY WEASTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ROSS WIENERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1201 16TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-3201
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
SARA A SNEED, 1201 16TH STREET NW 416, WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Signed the 990
SARA A SNEED, PRESIDENT & CEO
Phone
(202) 822-7840
Return prepared by
GELMAN ROSENBERG & FREEDMAN

Mission

THE NEA FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION), WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS TO ADVANCE THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE - THE FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AS AN EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, A REGION WITH PERSISTENT PATTERNS OF UNDERINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE HIGHEST CHILD POVERTY RATE IN THE NATION. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE CO-CREATED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AMONG EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL LEADERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND LOCAL BUSINESS AND INSTITUTIONS TO MEET STUDENTS' ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC NEEDS. THROUGH ITS INITIATIVE, THE FOUNDATION HAS BUILT A REGIONAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ACROSS ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI.
    Expenses $1,197,475 · grants $1,004,422
  • GRANTS TO EDUCATORS - TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS OF EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS ALL SUBJECT AREAS AND GRADE LEVELS. BY DIRECTLY FUNDING EDUCATOR-CONCEIVED AND LED PROJECTS, THE FOUNDATION ENABLES EDUCATORS TO CHART THEIR OWN COURSE TO SOLVE TEACHING AND LEARNING CHALLENGES. THE FOUNDATION GLEANS KNOWLEDGE FROM THESE GRANTS TO SHARE WHAT WORKS WITH THE FIELD AND TO INFORM OUR BROADER BODY OF WORK.
    Expenses $825,143 · grants $767,051
  • AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE - THE FOUNDATION PRESENTS THE AWARDS FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE AT OUR ANNUAL GALA TO HONOR THE CRITICAL WORK THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS DO EVERY DAY. IN 2025, WE CELEBRATED 48 EXEMPLARY EDUCATORS, ALL FROM DIFFERENT STATES, IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ONLINE.
    Expenses $646,260 · grants $90,000
  • PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
    Expenses $2,016,685
  • GLOBAL LEARNING FELLOWSHIP
    Expenses $376,140
  • RESPONSIVE GRANTMAKING
    Expenses $166,000 · grants $166,000
  • PARTNERSHIPS
    Expenses $217,000 · grants $217,000

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025August 31, 2026January 15, 2027Not due yet
2024August 31, 2025January 15, 2026990 on file
2023August 31, 2024January 15, 2025990 on file

IRS record

EIN
23-7035089
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1969
Accounting year ends
August
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B112)
Assets (IRS master file)
$56,235,764
Income (IRS master file)
$7,562,349

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990August 2025$6,815,298$6,770,078$56,235,764XML
990August 2024$6,658,255$6,194,524$52,733,359XML
990-TAugust 2024–––IRS
990August 2023$3,234,576$5,860,697$47,215,857XML
990-TAugust 2023–––IRS
990August 2022$13,777,530$6,620,376$46,299,667IRS
990-TAugust 2022–––IRS
990August 2021–––IRS
990-TAugust 2021–––IRS
990August 2020–––IRS
990August 2019–––IRS
990August 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 23-7035089).

Questions about THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION

What is the EIN of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION is 23-7035089.
Is THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1969.
Are donations to THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
Who is the principal officer of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names SARA A SNEED.
Who are the officers and directors of THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 29 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $304,983 (SARA SNEED, PRESIDENT & CEO).
How much revenue does THE NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,815,298, expenses of $6,770,078 and total assets of $56,235,764 at year end.

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