The Art of Problem Solving Initiative Inc

Overview

Mission

Beam aims to open up opportunity for all students at the highest level of achievement, to instill a genuine love for mathematics, and to open up opportunities for fulfilling, well-paid careers. To our knowledge, beam is the only program in the us providing long-term (10-year), comprehensive support to ensure success in advanced math for kids from low-income and low-access backgrounds. Our goals are to provide academic preparation for advanced mathematical work; social/emotional support so students are comfortable and confident with stem identities and engaging stem communities; a community of like-minded peers including students, counselors, and faculty in whom our students can see themselves represented; and guidance and mentoring to support students in seeking out future stem opportunities.

What it reported doing in 2024

The art of problem solving initiative, inc. (the organization), formerly known as "the art of problem solving foundation" was formed in 2004. From 2004 through 2011, aopsi was a small, all-volunteer organization; we ran a national math contest and supported local university-run math circles. Bridge to enter advanced mathematics (beam) was founded in 2011 by daniel zaharopol and rapidly became aopsi's main priority as the program started to find real success. Beam was founded to address a largely unrecognized problem: while affluent students with talent in math have many opportunities to receive instruction in deep enrichment mathematics, even high-achieving students from marginalized communities typically receive only rote instruction focused on basic skills. Too frequently, their potential goes unrecognized or unsupported.beam was launched as a small 3-week residential summer program for 17 rising 8th graders in New York city. As beam's summer programs grew, in 2013, beam also began to provide support and resources to students during the academic year, including weekend classes and drop-in office hours. In 2018, beam expanded to los angeles and continued to grow in nyc. Beam has now grown from running a single summer camp to running six summer sites serving about 420 students each summer and providing year-round support and programming for 650 students in New York and los angeles.the organization focuses its efforts on four main programs: bridge to enter advanced mathematics ("beam") discovery and summer away, the beam pathway program, and entry points, a new national initiative designed to bring beam programs to elementary and middle schools across the country. In 2020 we launched our first national program to reach low-access students across the us. When fully rolled out, the program aims to support thousands of students across the country beginning in 2nd grade and continuing through college graduation. More information is available at www.beammath.org or will be provided upon request.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 98% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 98% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
201239616
IRS 990 coverage
2013–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
New York, NY, USA
Phone
8882642793
Rating
78
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate

The verdict

SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of total spending goes to programs. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 61
  • Transparency & Controls: 83
  • Accountability: 100
  • Sustainability: 71
  • Growth: 100

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 55.7%; rating input score 56
  • Program expense ratio: 74.5%; rating input score 75
  • Fundraising efficiency: $12.32 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Pass
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 26.3%; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.24; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 15.4%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 20.9% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: 20.8% per year; rating input score 100; 92nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 24.4% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 55.7% of revenue deployed · 74.5% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 13 of 13 board members independent · 9 of 9 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 2 filed program accomplishments · $6.5M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $245K · 20 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 2 contractors listed · $235K reported
  • Consistency: 30 of 30 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors, grants, and executive pay
  • Filing history: 12 annual filings from 2013 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 7 filed money-flow records
  • Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
  • Staff and benefit plans: Retirement and health plans the organization files with the Department of Labor, and the people in them.

Leadership & pay

20 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • DANIEL ZAHAROPOL (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER): $244,974 total reported compensation
  • FELIX FLORES (CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER- FMR): $199,590 total reported compensation
  • MELISSA GILLIS (CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER): $195,429 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.