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National Scholastic Chess Foundation Inc
White Plains, NY · EIN 061301676 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE O99Z · Youth Development · Small ($100K-$1M) · nscfchess.org
revenue
$973K
expenses
$929K
net assets
$424K
employees
7
volunteers
4
program ratio
79%
mission · from form 990

The mission of National Scholastic Chess Foundation Inc is to bring the benefits of chess education to children by promoting the study of chess as an educational tool in classes and programs for elementary, middle and high school students. Continued on Schedule O

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing chess education for youth through scholastic programs, tournaments, and community outreach. Serves students from elementary through high school levels, with a focus on academic enrichment and social development. Operates primarily in New York and South Florida, supported by fundraising events and partnerships with chess organizations.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $133K
    Summer camps
  2. #2 $57K
    Chess tournaments
named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Chess Tournaments
Organized scholastic chess tournaments for youth, including regional and national events, with reported program expenses and revenue
Summer Camps
Annual summer chess camps providing structured instruction and play for students of varying skill levels, with documented expenses and revenue in IRS filings
activities · 1 group

What they do

  • Youth & Community Chess Education 10 activities
    • Coach competitive scholastic chess teams and individuals
      Coaches school and individual student teams to national and international success, including multiple national championships at Hunter High School, NEST+m, and Speyer School. Has guided students to titles such as National Master and supported medal-winning performances at World Youth Chess Championships.
    • Deliver chess instruction in schools and community programs
      Provides in-person and virtual chess instruction during and outside school hours to students of all ages and abilities, including in public schools, Title I schools, homeschools, and community programs. Offers tailored instruction for students with autism and other learning disabilities, and delivers full-year and term-long programs across New York City, Florida, and other locations.
    • Deliver professional development and teacher training
      Provides curriculum, training, and workshops for educators, law enforcement, and other professionals working with children to integrate chess into classrooms and youth programs. Includes mastery-based pedagogy using the Steps Method and has trained over 200 champions and educators.
    • Develop and promote curricular chess models
      Develops and disseminates national models for integrating chess into school curricula, including long-standing programs at Hunter College Elementary School and Greenwich Country Day School, with evidence of improved academic performance.
    • Host conferences and events to advance chess in education
      Organizes and co-presents conferences such as the Mindsets Chess in Education Conference in New York City, bringing together educators and researchers from the U.S. and abroad. Includes satellite events and presentations on curricular models like the Steps Method.
    • Operate summer chess camps and immersive programs
      Runs summer chess camps for youth of all skill levels, including six-week programs and weekly sessions in July and August. These camps focus on youth development through chess and are offered both independently and in partnership with general interest camps.
    • Organize scholastic chess tournaments and competitions
      Plans and manages local, state, national, and international scholastic chess tournaments for students, including hosting events on school campuses and supporting student participation in higher-level competitions. Tournament operations include oversight by designated directors and integration with online platforms.
    • Provide need-based scholarships and access support
      Offers need-based scholarships and sponsors participation in chess programs for students demonstrating academic or chess excellence, ensuring access to after-school and enrichment programs regardless of financial background.
    • Run targeted programs for at-risk and incarcerated youth
      Implements community chess programs focused on improving decision-making and life skills for at-risk youth, including those in juvenile justice settings and students with special needs, with ongoing initiatives in Broward County and Florida since 2014.
    • Support girls in chess through mentoring initiatives
      Runs the Chess Queens Girls Mentoring Initiative in partnership with the Sunrise Center and the Dan Marino Foundation, designed to support and empower girls in chess through structured mentoring and programming.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$973K
Contributions & grants$188K19%
Program service revenue$785K81%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$929K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$548K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$534K
Cash$399K
Investments$0
Liabilities$110K
Net assets$424K
Liquid reserves5.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • David Kupersmith — Director
  • Elisabeth S Harding — Director
  • Elizabeth B Korn — Secretary
  • Jay Hack — Director
  • Richard Trepp — Director
  • Robert Johnson — Director
  • Sunil Weeramantry — Founding Director
  • Vivek Nasta — Treasurer
  • Zlata Gleason — President
relationships · 50

Who they work with

  • Anderson School Partner — IM Silas Lund has taught and coached for the Anderson School since moving to New York in 2017.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs Partner — Collaborates with the NSCF to deliver community chess programs.
  • Charlotte Chess Center Partner — Collaborates with the Charlotte Chess Center, as evidenced by the CEO's participation in NSCF events.
  • Chess.com Partner — Covered NSCF-sponsored events, including Phiona Mutesi's U.S. tour.
  • City of Sunrise Partner — Long-term municipal partner in establishing and operating scholastic chess programs and the Sunrise Center
  • City of Sunrise Police Department Partner — Hosted NSCF chess workshop for professionals working with children.
  • Dan Marino Foundation Partner — NSCF runs a chess program in partnership with the Dan Marino Foundation.
  • Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Partner — Featured NSCF programs and events in news articles.
  • Franklin Chess Center Partner — Hosted NSCF Executive Director Sunil Weeramantry for a visit covered in local news.
  • Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura Partner — Publicly endorses NSCF programs, lending visibility and credibility to the organization.
  • Greenburgh Central School District Partner — Provides blended chess instruction within the district's elementary schools.
  • Greenwich Country Day School Partner — Coached team to national championship.
  • Greenwich Country Day School Partner — Hosts NSCF chess program.
  • Harvard Club of New York Partner — Host venue for the NSCF Founder's Dinner.
  • Hastings-on-Hudson Partner — Coached team to national championship.
  • Horace Mann Partner — Coached team to national championship.
  • Hunter College Campus Schools Partner — Hosted a pre-conference reception for the Mindsets conference and showcased its long-standing scholastic chess program
  • Hunter College Elementary School Partner — Hosts long-standing NSCF chess program that became a national model.
  • Hunter College Elementary School Partner — NSCF instructors have taught at Hunter College Elementary School, and it hosts NSCF-affiliated tournaments.
  • Hunter High School Partner — Coached Hunter High School team to multiple national championships.
  • ICC • chessclub.com Partner — Sponsor of the NSCF Founder's Dinner at the International Master level.
  • Internet Chess Club Partner — Partnered with NSCF to present the Chess Service Awards.
  • Kasparov Chess Foundation Partner — Co-hosted the Mindsets Chess in Education Conference with the National Scholastic Chess Foundation.
  • Kasparov Chess Foundation Partner — Co-presented the "Mindsets: The New York Chess in Education Conference" with NSCF
  • Kasparov Chess Foundation Partner — Engages with the Kasparov Chess Foundation, as shown by the participation of its Executive Director in NSCF events.
  • Marshall Chess Club Partner — Partners with the Marshall Chess Club, as indicated by the attendance of key staff members at NSCF events.
  • NEST+m Partner — Matan Prilleltensky served as chess teacher and coach at NEST+m, a New York City public school for talented and gifted students.
  • PS 116 Partner — NSCF instructors have taught chess at PS 116 in New York City.
  • PS 41 Partner — NSCF instructors have provided chess instruction at PS 41 in New York City.
  • Piper High School Partner — Partners to establish and grow a premier high school chess club and host tournaments.
+ 20 more
strategies · 2

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.

  • Chess as a Cognitive and Life Skills Developer
    methodology: chess-for-life-skills
    By teaching chess with an emphasis on decision-making, strategic thinking, and problem-solving, we improve academic performance and long-term personal development because the game serves as a structured model for transferable cognitive and life skills.
  • Chess for Inclusive Community Building
    methodology: community-building_through_chess
    By using chess as a shared, structured activity, we foster inclusion and bridge social divides across gender, culture, age, and ability because the game provides a neutral, rule-based space that promotes mutual respect and belonging.