irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $4.76MFINANCIAL AID - NICHOLS SCHOOL PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO 53% OF ITS STUDENTS. THIS ENSURES DIVERSITY WITHIN THE STUDENT BODY AND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ENDOWMENT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR ENROLLMENT WHILE MAINTAINING OUR GOAL FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF FINANCIAL AID DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING THOSE DOLLARS. THIS PROCESS IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION INTO THE FUTURE.
- #2 $414KFACILITIES - THE CAMPUS CONSISTS OF SIX SEPARATE BUILDINGS LINKED BY TREE LINED SIDEWALKS ON 30 ACRES OF CITY PROPERTY. THIS INCLUDES A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND AN ICE RINK. BY PROVIDING WELL MAINTAINED AND VARIED ACADEMIC, ARTS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES, IT DEMONSTRATES THE SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO THE FACULTY, COACHES AND STUDENTS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Facilities and Campus Operations
Maintains six academic and recreational buildings across a 30-acre campus, including a performing arts center and an ice rink, to support a comprehensive educational experience
Financial Aid Program
Provides need-based financial assistance to 53% of students, ensuring socioeconomic diversity and access to private education for families who otherwise could not afford tuition
Growing Our Inclusive Language Initiative
Educational resource providing definitions and context for equity, diversity, and inclusion terminology used within the school community
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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K–12 Computer Science & AI Education 1 activity
- Advance educational innovation through strategic partnershipsLaunched a partnership with TechBuffalo to build AI fluency among middle school students and teach algorithmic accountability to seniors, integrating emerging technology themes into the curriculum.
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College Preparatory Secondary Education 1 activity
- Deliver comprehensive academic programs for middle and upper school studentsOffers a rigorous academic curriculum designed to build skills, habits, and relationships that support college and lifelong success, including 24 Advanced Placement courses. The program emphasizes curiosity, independent reasoning, evidence-based argumentation, and the ability to gather and interpret information from diverse and historically marginalized sources.
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Student Support and Academic Services 1 activity
- Deliver student advising and academic supportConducts weekly advisor meetings with students to address academic progress and behavioral challenges, providing consistent guidance and support throughout the school year.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Expand access through financial aidProvides financial aid to a majority of enrolled students—53% in recent reporting—to support access and diversity in private secondary education.
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Individualized Academic Support 1 activity
- Maintain small class sizes and personalized instructionOperates with an average class size of 14 students and an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, enabling personalized education and tailored curriculum delivery.
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Interscholastic and Inclusive School Sports Programs 1 activity
- Operate athletic programs and teamsFields more than 55 athletic teams, including boys hockey under a dedicated head coach, and maintains championship-winning programs across over 20 teams. Operates on a campus featuring an ice rink and Scully Athletic Complex.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Provide arts education and creative engagement opportunitiesOffers an arts curriculum that fosters student engagement through creation, collaboration, observation, and reflection, with opportunities to explore multiple artistic disciplines or pursue in-depth study in one or more areas.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Support faculty professional developmentProvides professional development opportunities for faculty, including training on multi-tiered systems of student support, with 65 faculty members supported in recent initiatives.
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Student Club and Organization Support 1 activity
- Support student development through clubs, service, and roboticsProvides over 40 student-led clubs and organizations, more than 35 community service opportunities, and operates 6 robotics teams to foster leadership, civic engagement, and technical learning.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Develop graduate competencies and institutional mission alignmentDeveloped a Portrait of a Graduate outlining core student competencies aligned with the school’s mission and diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.
- Govern and steward institutional resourcesThe Board of Trustees meets five times per year and serves on standing committees to govern the institution and oversee the long-term protection of its financial, physical, and programmatic assets, including a $30 million endowment and 30-acre campus.
- Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in enrollmentEnrolled 192 students of color (33% of total enrollment) and 27 international students in the 2023–2024 academic year, reflecting sustained growth in racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity compared to prior years.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$25.66M
Contributions & grants$3.68M14%
Program service revenue$17.25M67%
Investment income$4.49M18%
Other revenue$239K
expenses
Total expenses$22.87M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$11.46M
Grants paid out$4.76M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$115.45M
Cash$13.71M
Investments$63.00M
Liabilities$7.75M
Net assets$107.69M
Liquid reserves40.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +11.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 7
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER D BURNER | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 50 | $476K |
| DANIEL DOLAN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 50 | $251K |
| PETER WICKMAN | DEAN OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT | 50 | $179K |
| JOSHUA LEROY | ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL | 50 | $177K |
| LESLIE GARCIA | ASST HEAD OF SCHOOL - ADVANCEMENT | 50 | $166K |
| KELLY JORGENSEN | DEAN, COLLEGE COUNSELING & ACADEMIC AFFAIRS | 50 | $132K |
| REBECCA BRAUNGART | DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION | 50 | $119K |
board members · 18
- ALYSON SPAULDING — VICE-CHAIR
- ANDREW FORS — TREASURER
- BONNIE PADWA — TRUSTEE
- BRIDGET LETT — TRUSTEE
- COLLEEN HEIDINGER — TRUSTEE
- DINA BENDERSON — TRUSTEE
- GEORGE T LAUB — TRUSTEE
- GREGORY DESAUTELS — TRUSTEE
- JEFFREY BENNETT — TRUSTEE
- JODI PRISELAC DE RISZNER — TRUSTEE
- JONATHON BLUMHAGEN — TRUSTEE
- JOSEPH SAFFIRE — TRUSTEE
- MARGARET BOSCARINO — SECRETARY
- MELISSA BALBACH — TRUSTEE
- MERLE THOMPSON — TRUSTEE
- MONTGOMERY POOLEY — VICE-CHAIR
- NICHOLAS TZETZO — TRUSTEE
- SCOTT SOCHA — TRUSTEE
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Admissions Office Partner — Unit within Nichols School responsible for managing the admissions process and supporting prospective families.
- Buffalo Seminary Partner — Coordinated educational programs with Buffalo Seminary starting in 1970.
- Education Collaborative of WNY Partner — Collaborated to tell the story of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Nichols School.
- Joseph D. Allen Government — Second Headmaster of Nichols School, whose educational philosophy continues to influence the school's mission.
- MySchoolApp Partner — Platform used for accessing Magnus Health to upload student physicals.
- Nottingham Academy Partner — Coordinated programs with Nottingham Academy beginning in 1970; later acquired the institution in 1972.
- TechBuffalo Partner — Strategic partnership to advance AI education and readiness for students at Nichols School.
- Uplifter Video Partner — Collaborated to produce a video telling the story of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Nichols School.
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.
- Challenge-Based Learning with Supportive Mentorshipmethodology: challenge-based_learningBy placing students in academically and personally challenging environments supported by close teacher-student relationships, the school promotes growth in critical thinking and character because struggle within a supportive context deepens learning and self-efficacy.
- Equity of Process and Outcomesmethodology: equity-of-process-and-outcomesBy ensuring equitable processes and providing individuals with the specific resources they need to succeed, the school advances inclusion and collective growth because fairness in access and treatment enables authentic participation and engagement for all students.
- Financial Aid as a Diversity Stewardship Strategymethodology: financial_aid_for_diversityBy using financial aid strategically, the school maintains long-term student body diversity because equitable access ensures socioeconomic inclusion and enriches the educational experience for all students.
- Holistic Student Development via Integrated Growth Domainsmethodology: whole-child_educationBy integrating intellectual, physical, emotional, artistic, athletic, and moral development, the school fosters whole-child growth because sustained engagement across multiple domains builds character, resilience, and readiness for life beyond school.
- Inclusive Critical Thinking through Marginalized Perspectivesmethodology: inclusive-critical-thinkingBy integrating historically marginalized perspectives into information gathering and analysis, the school develops more rigorous critical thinking because diverse viewpoints challenge dominant narratives and expand analytical depth.