Brighter Choice Foundation Inc
The Brighter Choice Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 that seeks to transform and improve the k-12 public education landscape in the capital district through the support and sponsorship of public charter schools and other new and innovative initiatives that expand or strengthen educational options for historically under-served students, families, and communities. In support of this mission, the Brighter Choice Foundation will make grants that support initiatives designed to grow and improve the education options available to families in the capital district.
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Brighter Choice Foundation Inc gave $30K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,000
- +650.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- Average grant
- $15,000
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $547,556
- -7.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Brighter Choice Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Henry Johnson Charter School ($15K). Together the top 2 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 4 grants of 7 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Brighter Choice Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 66% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2023) to $185K (2022). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $30K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Johnson Charter School Albany, NY | Henry johnson charter school was awarded $15,000 by the brighter choice foundation committee at end of 2024. | $15,000 |
| Destine Preparatory Charter School Schenectady, NY | Destine preparatory charter school was awarded $15,000 by the brighter choice foundation committee in 2024. | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $547,556 | $104,177 | $148,256 | $30,000 | 2 | $4,177 |
| 2023 | $592,535 | $125,969 | $178,871 | $4,000 | Total only | $25,969 |
| 2022 | $644,537 | $108,316 | $330,056 | $185,000 | 3 | $8,316 |
| 2021 | $941,279 | $100,000 | $230,986 | $87,775 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | $1,071,936 | $4,054 | $260,894 | — | — | $4,054 |
| 2019 | $1,302,583 | $1,785,505 | $682,797 | — | — | $1,289,366 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Brighter Choice Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc is a public charity, based in Glenmont, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $548K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $4K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc is led by Michael Strianese, Board Chair on every filing since 2019; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Strianese
Board Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Owens
Managing Director
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$113K (2019) → $12K (2024)
Chris Garber
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin O'Meara
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Muscatiello
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Backstrom
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Aaron Gladd (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: John Carl (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Anne Kiernan Lewis (2019–2020) — Acting Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $12K, to Katie Owens (Managing Director).
Frequently asked questions about Brighter Choice Foundation Inc
How much does Brighter Choice Foundation Inc give each year?
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc gave $30K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it reported $4K in grants paid.
How large is Brighter Choice Foundation Inc?
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc reported $548K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $104K.
Where does Brighter Choice Foundation Inc operate?
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc has awarded grants in New York.
What is Brighter Choice Foundation Inc's EIN?
Brighter Choice Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-1825626. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Brighter Choice Foundation Inc funds
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