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IRS-authorized e-file provider · not the IRS

Nonprofit · EIN 81-1578435

SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE

Tax-exempt · BLACK MTN, NC 28711

Financials

$4K$9K2022
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2023990-EZ$4,011$8,539-$4,528$22,857–$22,857
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended June 30, 2023

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2
Program service revenue
$4,000
Investment income
$9

Expenses

Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$0
Professional fees and payments to contractors
$1,437
Other expenses
$7,102
Program services (functional)
$5,667

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$27,385
Total assets, end of year
$22,857
Total liabilities, end of year
–
Net assets, end of year
$22,857
Cash, savings and investments
$22,857
Gross receipts
$4,011

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-EZ for the year ended June 30, 2023, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
HEIDI M GRUNEREXECUTIVE DI6$0
NELLE OWENS DUNLAPSECRETARY6$0
MARIA JUDICEBOARD MEMBER3$0
KEITH SMITHBOARD MEMBER3$0
LUAN SHERMANBOARD MEMBER3$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 421, BLACK MTN, NC 28711-0421
Mailing address (990-N for 2025)
PO Box 421, Black Mountain NC 28711
Principal officer (990-N for 2025)
Mara Thomas, 2105 Farthing St, Durham NC 27704
Signed the 990-EZ
HEIDI M GRUNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(828) 357-5485
Return prepared by
CARTER P C

Mission

SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE IS AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY. WE AIM TO PROVIDE A PASSION-DRIVEN MODEL OF EDUCATION THAT ENCOURAGES GREATER POSSIBILITIES FOR THOUGHT, CREATION AND COLLECTIVE ACTION. INSTEAD OF A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT, OUR CAMPUS SUPPORTS A COLLECTIVELY BUILT, SELF-DIRECTED APPROACH TO LEARNING, WHICH GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN AND TEACH.

990-EZ for the year ended June 30, 2023

Program accomplishments

  • IN THE FACE OF UNAFFORDABLE, CORPORATIZED LEARNING, AND THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL CURRICULUMS THAT OFTEN DEFINE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION, WE ARE PRESENTING AN ALTERNATIVE. SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE IS A SOCIALLY INTEGRATED EXPERIENCE, WITH INTIMATE CLASSES, COMMUNAL LIVING, AND EMPHASIS ON SHARED LABOR. THROUGH A SYSTEM OF CO-EDUCATION, LEARNERS AND EDUCATORS COOPERATE IN ACTIVELY PRODUCING KNOWLEDGE AND FORMING NEW AESTHETIC EXPERIENCES. FACULTY ARE FREE TO PLAN THEIR CLASS ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN INSTRUCTION, AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN OTHER CLASSES AS STUDENTS. STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DESIGN THEIR OWN CURRICULUM BUT ARE ALSO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH. ALL MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHOOLS PHYSICAL MAINTENANCE THROUGH GARDENING, COOKING, CLEANING AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GRADUAL AND CONTINUAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, ESSENTIAL VALUES, AND POLITICAL CONCERNS, BRACING SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE. WE VALUE EXPERIMENTATION AS BOTH AN AESTHETIC DRIVE, AND AS A WAY TO PUSH NEW IDEAS AND OLD TRADITIONS TO THEIR LIMITS. THIS RADICAL POWER IS ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITHIN US, OUR RESPECTIVE FIELDS, OUR SOCIETY, AND AND OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS. AT SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE WE AIM TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE BROKEN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A SYMPTOM OF A BROKEN SOCIETY. WE KNOW THAT PROGRAMS OF INTENTIONAL INCLUSIVITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION ARE UNDER CONSTANT THREAT. BUT BY SUPPORTING DISRUPTIVE CURRICULA, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING DIVERSE POPULATIONS, AND LISTENING DEEPLY TO FOLKS WHO HIGHER EDUCATION TRADITIONALLY SILENCES, WE HOPE TO REVERSE THAT TREND. OUR HOPE IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY, UNLIKE HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE ART WORLD, WILL BE A WIDER REFLECTION OF THE ART-MAKING COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE WANT SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS ACCESS. WE WANT TO SHARE OUR PROGRAMMING WITH ALL REGARDLESS OF RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER, INCOME LEVEL, OR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, OR BACKGROUND. WE VALUE RECIPROCAL EDUCATION, WHEREIN DIALOGUE BETWEEN PEERS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CREATES SPACE FOR ALL TO LEARN.
    Expenses $5,667

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026990-N on file
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990-N on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990-N on file

File the 2026 990-N for SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE

Due November 15, 2027 · e-filed with the IRS by 990.tax, an IRS-authorized e-file provider

IRS record

EIN
81-1578435
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2018
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
Category (NTEE)
Education (B60)

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990-N for 2025
Officer: Mara Thomas
June 30, 2026≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2024
Officer: Mara Thomas
June 30, 2025≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-N for 2023
Officer: Mara Thomas
June 30, 2024≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard
990-EZJune 2023$4,011$8,539$22,857XML
990-EZJune 2022–––IRS
990-EZJune 2021–––IRS
990-EZJune 2020–––IRS
990-EZJune 2019–––IRS
990-N for 2015
Officer: WILLIAM T GOINS IV
June 30, 2016≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

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 81-1578435).

Questions about SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE

What is the EIN of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE is 81-1578435.
Is SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2018.
Are donations to SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE file?
Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.
When is the next return of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending June 30, 2027) is due November 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-N for 2025 for the year ended June 30, 2026.
Who is the principal officer of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE?
The 990-N for 2025 names Mara Thomas.
Who are the officers and directors of SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE?
The 990-EZ for the year ended June 30, 2023 lists 5 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does SCHOOL OF THE ALTERNATIVE have?
On its 990-EZ for the year ended June 30, 2023 it reported revenue of $4,011, expenses of $8,539 and total assets of $22,857 at year end.

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