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Nonprofit · EIN 84-1150507

THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Tax-exempt · BOULDER, CO 80301

Financials

$2.7M$2.4M2022$2.7M$2.4M2023$2.7M$2.5M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
August 31, 2025990$2,709,215$2,511,859$197,356$4,121,821$609,973$3,511,848
August 31, 2024990$2,664,365$2,437,468$226,897$3,976,893$662,401$3,314,492
August 31, 2023990$2,650,449$2,388,172$262,277$3,737,506$649,911$3,087,595
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$6,554
Program service revenue
$2,699,481
Investment income
$3,180
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$138,074
Other salaries and wages
$1,537,504
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$1,938,835
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$472
Accounting fees
$27,204
Occupancy
$38,721
Depreciation
$117,595
Program services (functional)
$2,273,542
Management and general (functional)
$236,954
Fundraising (functional)
$1,363

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$3,976,893
Total assets, end of year
$4,121,821
Total liabilities, end of year
$609,973
Net assets, end of year
$3,511,848
Land, buildings and equipment
$2,537,781
Net assets without donor restrictions
$3,511,848
Gross receipts
$2,709,215
Employees
60
Year formed
1994
State of legal domicile
CO

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
CHELSEA CHAMBERLAINEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$130,957$17,893
SAMARA MECKLEPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
CARLY NADINGTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
DAVE GLASERINCOMING PRE
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0$0
DEIRDRE NAGLEMEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DONNA ZUBILLAGAMEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
ANAT HURWITZMEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 8 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHELSEA CHAMBERLAINEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$108,916$12,458
SAMARA MECKLEPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CARLY NADINGTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
HEATHER HOOVERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LJ WERNERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NICK ROTAMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVE GLASERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEIRDRE NAGLEMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 9 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHELSEA CHAMBERLAINEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$70,908$2,822
ANDRE' BOLLAERTFORMER EXEC
Officer
40$60,304$12,697
SAMARA MECKLEPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
CARLY NADINGTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
HEATHER HOOVERSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
LJ WERNERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
NICK ROTAMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DAVE GLASERMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DEIRDRE NAGLEMEMBER
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
2845 WILDERNESS PL, BOULDER, CO 80301-6314
In care of
% OL TOR EARLY CHILDHOO
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
CHELSEA CHAMBERLAIN, 2845 WILDERNESS PLACE, BOULDER, CO 80304
Signed the 990
CHELSEA CHAMBERLAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Phone
(303) 938-8233
Return prepared by
ALTRUIC ADVISORS CPAS

Mission

TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER STANDARDS IN THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

990 for the year ended August 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • THE ACORN SCHOOL OFFERS FULL-DAY, YEAR-ROUND, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO SIX YEARS. OUR SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1994 TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILL ATTAINMENT IS THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING. WE INCORPORATE NATURE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHILDREN'S DAILY LEARNING. WE CONTINUE TO USE BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO OFFER CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND CARE THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND ACHIEVE.
    Expenses $2,159,865 · revenue $2,699,481
  • THE PURPOSE OF WILDERNESS EARLY LEARNING CENTER (WELC) IS TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ENROLLED AT THE ACORN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. WELC AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ACORN SCHOOL.
    Expenses $113,677

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
84-1150507
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
1995
Accounting year ends
August
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P33)
Assets (IRS master file)
$4,121,821
Income (IRS master file)
$2,709,215

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990August 2025$2,709,215$2,511,859$4,121,821XML
990August 2024$2,664,365$2,437,468$3,976,893IRS
990August 2023$2,650,449$2,388,172$3,737,506XML
990August 2022$2,605,068$2,152,395$3,513,784IRS
990August 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 84-1150507).

Questions about THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

What is the EIN of THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT is 84-1150507.
Is THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1995.
Are donations to THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 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 ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 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 ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 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 ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names CHELSEA CHAMBERLAIN.
Who are the officers and directors of THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT?
The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $130,957 (CHELSEA CHAMBERLAIN, EXECUTIVE DI).
How much revenue does THE ACORN SCHOOL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT have?
On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,709,215, expenses of $2,511,859 and total assets of $4,121,821 at year end.

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