SchoolSeed Foundation

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
264477567
IRS 990 coverage
2010–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Memphis, TN, USA
Phone
9012071472
Rating
63
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Standard
Sector
Public Foundations

Reported finances

Revenue
$3,330,167
Expenses
$2,885,249
Assets
$14,096,359
Liabilities
$10,170,310

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

7 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • Vincent McCaskill (President/ CEO)

Highest reported compensation

  • Vincent McCaskill (President/ CEO): $207,668 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

At SchoolSeed, we recognize that the journey to enrich our community starts with our families and the environments we nurture for our children. We are dedicated to fostering a network of support that uplifts every family and child. By collaborating closely with residents, local organizations, and businesses, we aim to extend impactful programs that reach deep into the heart of our community. Our mission is to ensure that every child benefits from initiatives that enhance not only educational outcomes but also holistic development and family stability. We believe that strong families form the backbone of thriving communities, and through targeted support and active engagement, we are committed to catalyzing lasting positive change right where it matters most-in our community.

What it reported doing in 2024

SchoolSeed has been a trusted organization committed to developing and managing programs that directly impact children, families, and the broader community. At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to strengthening families, as we believe strong families lead to stronger communities. Through our initiatives, we provide essential services that help parents, children, and residents overcome challenges and build a foundation for success. Our flagship programs include: Kindred Place - Offering counseling support for parents, children, and families, helping them navigate trauma, stress, and mental health challenges. This work promotes healthier relationships and stability within households, ensuring long-term community well-being. Bridge Up Giddy Up - A unique equestrian program that immerses inner-city youth in the world of horseback riding, providing mentorship, life skills development, and exposure to new opportunities. This initiative has helped children develop discipline, confidence, and resilience. Community Collaboration and Outreach - We actively work with residents, local organizations, and businesses to address pressing community needs, supporting initiatives that contribute to overall neighborhood development and family stability. SchoolSeed is dedicated to securing and managing private resources to operate and expand these programs, ensuring families and youth in Memphis have access to the tools and support they need to thrive. Our focus remains on creating sustainable, impactful initiatives that uplift and empower individuals fostering a stronger, more resilient community for all.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 82% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% 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.

The verdict

SUPPORTED - Most voting board members are independent and revenue comfortably covers expenses. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and few specific pay-setting methods are documented in the filing; unanswered boxes are not proof of absence.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 59
  • Transparency & Controls: 57
  • Accountability: 95
  • Sustainability: 63
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 58.3%; rating input score 58
  • Program expense ratio: 61.8%; rating input score 62
  • Fundraising efficiency: $16.02 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 85.7%; rating input score 86; 1st percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
    • Compensation committee: Missing
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Missing
    • Board or committee approval: Missing
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: No; rating input score 0

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 13.4%; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.89; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.72; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 7.2%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -5.2% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -1.2% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -7.2% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 58.3% of revenue deployed · 61.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 6 of 6 board members independent · 7 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $1.8M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $208K · 7 people listed · 0 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Consistency: 25 of 27 current checks pass · 2 findings to review
  • Schedules: 7 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 12 filing years from 2010 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • 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.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 58/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Pay-setting controls scored 0/100.
  • Review — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 53/100.
  • High — Growth: Program expense growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Related-party transparency scored 0/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: Whistleblower policy not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Transparency & Controls: Schedule D revenue reconciliation did not reconcile in the filed values.
  • Review — Transparency & Controls: Schedule R controlled transactions itemized did not reconcile in the filed values.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 12/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 41/100.