COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

TAPESTRY CHARTER SCHOOL
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 161604750 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE B29 · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · tapestryschool.org
revenue
$19.9M
expenses
$20.3M
net assets
$7.4M
employees
318
volunteers
13
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

OPERATE A K-12 CHARTER SCHOOL TO EDUCATE AND INSPIRE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Tapestry Charter School is a K-12 public charter school in Buffalo, New York, serving a diverse student population. The school provides comprehensive academic programming, student support services, and extracurricular activities, including after-school clubs and summer sports camps. It operates under New York State charter guidelines and emphasizes family engagement through advisory groups and community events.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

After School Clubs
Extracurricular clubs available at all grade levels allowing students to explore interests and develop new skills
Play Buffalo Summer Camp
Free three-week summer sports camp for students entering grades 3–6, offering multi-sport activities, skill-building, and teamwork in a supportive environment
Principal’s Advisory Group (PAG)
Consultative body including parents, students, and faculty to advise school leadership on policies, staff hiring, and funding priorities
Student-Led Conferences
Twice-yearly academic review meetings led by students, involving parents, crew leaders, and other adults to discuss progress and learning
Tapestry Community Association (TCA)
Parent-governed organization supporting school community through fundraising, event planning, and volunteer coordination
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Charter School Admissions Lottery Management 1 activity
    • Administer student enrollment process
      Conducts an annual public lottery for K-12 enrollment with a fixed application deadline. Requires submission of academic records and proof of grade promotion for grades 1–12 and conducts Kindergarten readiness assessments for incoming students.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver after-school and extracurricular programs
      Offers after-school clubs and supervised activities for students at all grade levels to explore interests and develop skills beyond the classroom. Includes weekly sports programming and seasonal camps.
  • School and School-Community Events 1 activity
    • Host community and family engagement events
      Organizes annual events such as HarvestFest, WinterFest, Trunk or Treat, Meat Raffle, and Mum Sale to bring together families, students, and staff while raising funds for community programs. Also hosts a backpack giveaway and community wellness event.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Maintain alumni engagement program
      Operates an alumni portal and organizes events such as reunions, service days, and networking mixers. Highlights alumni achievements through quarterly spotlights and offers opportunities for alumni to contribute to scholarship funds.
  • Charter School Operations 1 activity
    • Operate K-12 public charter school
      Provides a rigorous public education for students in grades K-12 in Buffalo, New York, with a focus on diversity, compassion, collaboration, community, creativity, and leadership. Maintains an 11-to-1 student-to-certified-teacher ratio in grades K-4 and emphasizes academic achievement, character development, and college readiness.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Provide college and guidance counseling
      Offers guidance services including college planning support, event information, and dissemination of important student news. Reports college acceptance rates and supports student transitions to higher education.
  • Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
    • Run summer sports day camp
      Operates a 3-week summer day camp for students entering grades 3–6, featuring hands-on exposure to multiple sports in a team-based environment, daily snacks, and a free T-shirt for each participant.
  • Youth Health and Wellness Education 1 activity
    • Support student health and wellness
      Provides direct health care services for injuries, acute illness, and long-term health needs, along with health education classes and curriculum development. Implements the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and operates a DASA reporting system for incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment, with all reports leading to investigation.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$19.92M
Contributions & grants$2.08M10%
Program service revenue$17.29M87%
Investment income$322K2%
Other revenue$229K
expenses
Total expenses$20.29M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$13.47M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$42.13M
Cash$6.91M
Investments$5.06M
Liabilities$34.76M
Net assets$7.37M
Liquid reserves7.1 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -1.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ERIC KLAPPER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $184K
JENNIFER PANGBORN CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER 40 $166K
DR KARRIE HAYES CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $156K
SARA HILLIGAS HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL 40 $143K
LINDSEY LEE MS PRNCIPAL 40 $126K
board members · 13
  • ALFRED J WRIGHT — CHAIR
  • BETSY BEHREND — TRUSTEE
  • DANIEL PYNE — TREASURER
  • DANIEL ROBERTSON — TRUSTEE
  • DR HILARY LOCHTE — TRUSTEE
  • JAVEENA EDWARDS — TRUSTEE
  • JEREMY HAZELTON — TRUSTEE
  • JOSHUA FEINSTEIN — SECRETARY
  • LINDSEY E DOTSON — TRUSTEE
  • LUANNE FIRESTONE — VICE-CHAIR
  • PATRICK LEWIS — TRUSTEE
  • SAMANTHA GAERTE — TRUSTEE
  • TAYLOR HUNTER — TRUSTEE
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Avela Partner — Technology and enrollment processing partner for student applications and registration
  • Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Partner — Partners with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to support Project Play WNY and its summer camp programming at Tapestry Charter School.
  • Enroll Buffalo Charters Network — Regional charter school enrollment consortium through which Tapestry manages applications
  • Fred Carstens Partner — DASA Coordinator and Principal for Tapestry Charter High School who receives reports and oversees DASA implementation.
  • Google Partner — Used for hosting sponsorship sign-up forms via Google Forms.
  • Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram to share alumni news and event announcements.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Uses LinkedIn to share school updates and connect with alumni professionally.
  • PowerSchool Partner — Partners with PowerSchool to provide the Parent Portal for access to grades, attendance, and food service accounts.
  • Project Play WNY Partner — Sponsors and collaborates on the Play Buffalo Summer Camp program at Tapestry Charter School.
  • Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Funder — Funds the Project Play WNY initiative, which supports the summer camp at Tapestry Charter School.
  • Section VI Network — Member of Section VI sports for interscholastic athletic competition.
  • State of New York Government — Implements the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), which the school enforces as part of state-mandated policy.
  • Tapestry Charter School Network — Primary affiliated school whose mission the TCA upholds and supports through community engagement and programming.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Active Learning Drives Holistic Student Success
    methodology: active_learning
    By engaging students and teachers in meaningful, active learning experiences, the school fosters both academic achievement and personal development, because student engagement is foundational to deeper learning and long-term success.
  • Home-School Partnerships Strengthen Learning Communities
    methodology: home-school partnership
    By strengthening collaboration between families and the school, the organization enhances student support and engagement, because sustained family involvement creates a more effective community of learners and leaders.
  • Real-World Learning for Intellectual and Social Growth
    methodology: real-world learning
    By integrating rigorous, real-world learning experiences into education, the school supports students’ intellectual, social, and emotional development, because authentic contexts deepen understanding and build practical life skills.
  • Student Ownership Through Student-Led Conferences
    methodology: student-led_conferences
    By having students lead conferences to present their academic progress, the school promotes ownership of learning and accountability, because self-reflection and presentation to parents and staff deepen engagement and responsibility.
  • Values-Based Education as Foundation for Development
    methodology: values-based education
    By instilling core values—perseverance, integrity, responsibility, and respect—the school builds a moral and behavioral foundation that enables academic engagement and personal growth, because character development is integral to student success.