Champion Education Network

Public charity · Grantmaker Detroit, MI EIN: 46-3626223

To build a system of remarkable neighborhood schools in traditionally under-resourced communities using a trauma-informed, whole child approach to education - ensuring college, career, and life success for all children.

Champion Education Network at a glance

In short: Champion Education Network gave $35K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$34,965
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$34,965
Median grant
$34,965
Total assets
$1,223,555
-40.9% vs 2024
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Champion Education Network funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Detroit Leadership Academy: $35KDetroit Leadership Academy$35K

The largest 2025 recipient was Detroit Leadership Academy ($35K).

Grant Size Distribution

1 grant across all recorded years

1<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

ClevelandDetroit

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K2 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2025) to $43K (2019). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $35K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Detroit Leadership Academy Detroit, MIBuilding Operations$34,965
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$1,223,555$9,606,517$9,795,112$34,9651$1,470
2024$2,071,709$10,690,282$9,884,158———
2023$1,167,391$8,936,667$9,553,846———
2022$1,721,505$8,948,586$7,726,592———
2021$924,146$2,012,964$1,024,793———
2020$1,110,966$877,242$856,264———
2019$799,548$1,376,369$1,271,632$42,6252—

About Champion Education Network

Based on IRS filings

Champion Education Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $35K. Net investment income was $1K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Champion Education Network is led by Michille Roper-Few, CEO, President & Superintendent since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 3 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Michille Roper-Few

    CEO, President & Superintendent

    Principal → CEO & Superintendent, 2024

    CEO & Superintendent → CEO, President & Superintendent, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    55 hrs/week

    $105K (2023) → $129K (2025)

  • Nikkiya Penson

    Chair

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Crystal Martin

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Angel Neely-Allen

    Director & Secretary

    Director → Director & Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa Davis-Patterson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrina Caldwell

    Treasurer & Director

    Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Casey Crews

    Chief of Schools

    Chief Schools Officer → Chief of Schools, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    55 hrs/week

    $114K (2021) → $109K (2025)

  • Sonya Lewis

    School Principal

    New on the 2025 filing

    55 hrs/week

    $103K (2025)

  • Deanne Surles

    Secretary & Treasurer

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elaina Holsey

    Vice Chair

    Vice Chair → Vice President, 2024

    Vice President → Vice Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (21)
  • Former: Kerri Smith (2019–2024) — Bus. Mgt. Liaison & Executive Coach
  • Former: Ashley McBride (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Derek Freund (2021–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Nikkiya Branch (2022–2024) — President
  • Former: Tyler Shaw (2024) — Chief of Staff
  • Former: Erin Wills (2021–2023) — K- Principal
  • Former: Tiffany Cobb (2021–2023) — Director of Special Education
  • Former: Gary Bewersdorf (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Chris Yaw (2019–2021) — Chair
  • Former: Neil Stewart (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Nicholas A. Huguelet (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Owen Willis (2019–2021) — Treasurer
  • Former: Pantea Stevenson (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Gary Bewersdoft (2021) — Director
  • Former: Nikkiya Branch Director (2021) — Oct. & Secretary · Filing note: As of
  • Former: Rebecca Tisdale (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Renee Burgess (2019–2020) — President
  • Former: Gary Meier - Ceo Then (2020) — Executive Director
  • Former: Alex Shaw (2019) — Director
  • Former: Gary Meier (2019) — CEO
  • Former: Punita Thurman (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Michille Roper-Few — CEO & President, Superintendent: $129KMichille Roper-FewCEO & President, Superintendent$129KCasey Crews — Chief of Schools: $109KCasey CrewsChief of Schools$109KSonya Lewis — School Principal: $103KSonya LewisSchool Principal$103K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $129K, to Michille Roper-Few (CEO & President, Superintendent). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Champion Education Network

How much does Champion Education Network give each year?

Champion Education Network gave $35K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.

How large is Champion Education Network?

Champion Education Network reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.6M.

What is Champion Education Network?

Champion Education Network is a public charity focused on Education, based in Detroit, MI. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Champion Education Network operate?

Champion Education Network has awarded grants in Michigan, Ohio.

What is Champion Education Network's EIN?

Champion Education Network's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-3626223. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(4)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
  3. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Champion Education Network's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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