Communities in Schools
Communities In Schools (CIS) is a public charity based in Arlington, Virginia. It supports students through relationships with caring adults in schools and connections to school and community resources, and it makes grants to education and community organizations.
Communities in Schools at a glance
In short: Communities in Schools gave $10.1M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $633K), top state West Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,127,919
- +127.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $632,995
- +70.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $361,445
- Total assets
- $98,716,824
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Communities in Schools
- Contact
Mailing address: 2461 South Clark Street 1200, Arlington, VA 22202
Phone: (703) 519-8999
Website: https://communitiesinschools.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Communities in Schools funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was West Virginia State Department of Education ($2.9M). Together the top 10 received $9.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 16 grants of 52 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CIS describes its work as nationwide, with a network operating in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Its 2025 grant dollars were concentrated in West Virginia (29%) and Oregon (26%), followed by California (11%), Maryland (6%), and New Jersey (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Communities in Schools gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2022) to $10.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $10.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia State Department of Education Charleston, WV | West Virginia Licensing | $2,920,954 |
| Portland Public Schools Portland, OR | General Support | $2,656,814 |
| Pasadena Unified School District Pasadena, CA | General Support | $835,880 |
| National Indian Education Association Rockville, MD | General Support | $605,334 |
| Newark Board of Education Newark, NJ | General Support | $585,695 |
| Fargo Public Schools Fargo, ND | General Support | $433,306 |
| Jackson Public School District Jackson, MS | General Support | $404,050 |
| Montgomery County Board of Education Montgomery, AL | General Support | $394,625 |
| Santa Ana Unified School District Santa Ana, CA | General Support | $328,264 |
| Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care Fort Smith, AR | General Support | $171,156 |
Ready to take the next step with Communities in Schools?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $98,716,824 | $71,027,341 | $74,476,155 | $10,127,919 | 16 | $4,264,277 |
| 2024 | $99,167,218 | $64,504,209 | $59,947,517 | $4,455,507 | 12 | $3,263,958 |
| 2023 | $89,313,491 | $35,985,720 | $34,314,140 | $784,742 | 8 | $2,608,098 |
| 2022 | $82,439,445 | $46,241,712 | $27,226,760 | $70,000 | 1 | $1,615,407 |
| 2021 | $73,470,009 | $25,993,702 | $30,118,535 | $1,106,541 | 15 | $2,911,468 |
| 2020 | $72,086,035 | $15,932,429 | $29,485,323 | $1,337,183 | 5 | $1,232,833 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CIS’s mission is to surround students with a community of support and empower them to stay in school and achieve in life. Its approach places site coordinators in schools to identify student and school needs, plan with educators, connect students and families to supports, and monitor results.
In its 2024 filing, CIS describes work to build capacity across its state-office and local-affiliate network, evaluate and share evidence-based practices, raise public awareness around student engagement and educational inequities, and advocate on a nonpartisan basis for public policies that support public education.
The 2025 grants include general support for school districts and other organizations, as well as support described as “West Virginia licensing” and “reaching rural communities, scaling ISS.” The supported organizations span different kinds of work. For example, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care says its mission is to promote excellence in health care through evaluation and education; Northeast Texas Community College says its foundation administers gifts and grants to enhance educational excellence; and Growing Together says it creates pathways for children to break the cycle of poverty through education, community vibrancy, and the built environment.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CIS reported 16 grants totaling $10,127,919. Grant amounts ranged from $70,000 to $2,920,954, with a median of $361,444.
The largest listed grants were $2,920,954 to the West Virginia State Department of Education for “West Virginia licensing”; $2,656,814 to Portland Public Schools for general support; $835,880 to Pasadena Unified School District for general support; $605,334 to the National Indian Education Association for general support; and $585,695 to the Newark Board of Education for general support. Other listed recipients include Fargo Public Schools ($433,306), Jackson Public School District ($404,050), Montgomery County Board of Education ($394,625), and Santa Ana Unified School District ($328,264), each for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rey Saldaña as president. Other listed officers and directors are Heather Clawson, chief, program & innovation; Charles Thompson, chief external engagement officer; Dawn Godaire, VP, human resources; Tiffany Grant, chief of staff (outgoing FY25); Manoma Sirisena, VP, finance (outgoing FY25); Anya Harrington, VP, marketing & communications (outgoing FY25); Frederick Hartley, VP, advancement (outgoing FY25); Michael Huang, VP national resource center; and Dana Smith, VP, organizational health & performance.
Communities in Schools is led by Rey Saldana, President on every filing since 2020; 18 of 38 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rey Saldana
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$344K (2021) → $511K (2025)
Donna Weiss
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Leary
Senior Director of Research & Evaluation
Director of Research & Evaluation → Senior Director of Research & Evaluation, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $144K (2025)
Elizabeth Mejia
Director of Organizational Development
Organizational Development Director → Director of Organizational Development, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$120K (2021) → $142K (2025)
Christopher Murray
Senior Director of Innovation & Strategic Initiati
Senior Director, Innovation & Strategic Initiatives → Senior Director of Innovation & Strategic Initiati, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$129K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Takita Battle
Senior Director of Institutional Giving
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$149K (2025)
Arne Duncan
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Ortiz-McGhee
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher F. Allwin
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Wynn
Director
Chairman → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Isaiah Pickens PhD
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Cox Chambers
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Croan
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jillian Manus
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Didomizio
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Juan Sepulveda
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leonard Stern
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pascal Fernandez
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert H. B. Baldwin Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shaquille O'Neal
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Zac Guevara
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Talitha Halley
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Fernandez
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Tully
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Smith
Vice President, Organizational Health & Performance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$128K (2020) → $182K (2025)
Dawn A. Godaire
Vice President & Human Resources
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$171K (2020) → $191K (2025)
Heather J. Clawson
Chief, Program & Innovation
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$229K (2020) → $308K (2025)
Manoma Sirisena
Vice President & Finance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$162K (2020) → $207K (2025)
Michael Huang
Vice President National Resource Center
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$160K (2020) → $181K (2025)
William E. Milliken
Vice Chairman & Founder
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $37K (2025)
Anya Harrington
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$122K (2022) → $173K (2025)
Shaunna Finley
Principal of External Professional Development
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$119K (2022) → $149K (2025)
Jason Smith
Vice President & Technology
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$146K (2023) → $178K (2025)
Charles Thompson
Chief External Engagement Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$287K (2024) → $299K (2025)
Tiffany Grant
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$178K (2024) → $209K (2025)
Atul Sharma
Chief Operating Officer & Secretary Incoming Fy25
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$82K (2025)
Frederick Hartley
Vice President & Advancement
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$184K (2025)
Darilyn Olidge
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Dan Domenech (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Kimberly Davis (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sherrie Rollins Westin (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Steven D. McCullough (2020–2024) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Kamila Clayborne (2024) — Senior Principal & Advancement
- Former: Christopher Womack (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kelly Masley (2020–2023) — Secretary & Senior Prin
- Former: Michael French (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Douglas Sessions (2020–2022) — Senior Principal for Growth & Partnerships to
- Former: Jessica Cuddy (2020–2022) — Senior Director, Learning & Practice
- Former: Stacy Tsakeris (2020–2022) — Vice President & Technology
- Former: Janine Quijije (2022) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Dale A. Erquiaga (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Gary M. Chapman (2020–2021) — Vice President & Business Development
- Former: Pamela Giller (2020–2021) — Vice President, Growth & Development
- Former: Stephen T. Majors (2020–2021) — Vice President Communications
- Former: Tiffany D. Miller (2020–2021) — Chief of Staff
- Former: John Nixon (2020) — Director
- Former: Timothy J. Plant (2020) — Vice President Advancement
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $511K, to Rey Saldana (President). 18 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Communities in Schools
How much does Communities in Schools give each year?
Communities in Schools gave $10.1M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.5M across 12 grants.
What is Communities in Schools's typical grant size?
Communities in Schools's median grant in 2025 was $361,445, and its average grant was $632,995, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Communities in Schools give grants?
Communities in Schools's top state is West Virginia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Oregon (26%) and California (11%).
Does Communities in Schools give general operating support?
Yes: 69% of Communities in Schools's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Communities in Schools's largest grantees?
Communities in Schools's largest 2025 grantees include West Virginia State Department of Education ($2,920,954), Portland Public Schools ($2,656,814) and Pasadena Unified School District ($835,880), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Communities in Schools?
Communities in Schools reported $98.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $71.0M.
What does Communities in Schools fund?
CIS’s mission is to surround students with a community of support and empower them to stay in school and achieve in life. Its approach places site coordinators in schools to identify student and school needs, plan with educators, connect students and families to supports, and monitor results. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Communities in Schools?
Communities in Schools has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check communitiesinschools.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Communities in Schools's EIN?
Communities in Schools's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1289174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Communities in Schools's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Communities in Schools funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/communities-in-schools-morg_2beba578ee16427eb4a40a0ed53637aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581289174_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Communities in Schools funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/communities-in-schools-morg_2beba578ee16427eb4a40a0ed53637aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Communities in Schools'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.
Communities in Schools down — hundreds of funders to go?