Empower Schools Inc
Empower Schools is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities to help them get the schools they want with the results they need. We do this through launching and supporting empowerment zones, designing rural collaboratives, and supporting the launch of early college and career pathways. We also advance and inform policy, and build aligned ecosystems that empower educators and serve students better.
Empower Schools Inc at a glance
In short: Empower Schools Inc gave $80K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $79,779
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $26,593
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $6,364,655
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Empower Schools Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alpine Independent School District ($37K). Together the top 3 received $80K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 16 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Empower Schools Inc gives
- Giving fell 81% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $80K (2025) to $416K (2022). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $80K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alpine Independent School District Alpine, TX | Rural Pathways Launch and Implementation Support | $37,376 |
| Region One Education Service Center Edinburg, TX | Rural Pathways Launch and Implementation Support | $25,000 |
| Region 8 ESC Pittsburg, TX | Rural Pathways Launch and Implementation Support | $17,403 |
Ready to take the next step with Empower Schools Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,364,655 | $5,541,200 | $5,399,202 | $79,779 | 3 | $164,390 |
| 2024 | $5,853,499 | $5,932,845 | $5,822,472 | — | — | $114,360 |
| 2023 | $6,005,695 | $6,036,313 | $5,763,664 | $150,000 | 1 | $32,913 |
| 2022 | $5,547,626 | $4,854,097 | $4,802,810 | $415,811 | 11 | $3,862 |
| 2021 | $5,273,911 | $5,235,686 | $3,668,286 | $150,000 | 1 | $1,566 |
| 2020 | $3,711,143 | $3,627,275 | $3,224,520 | — | — | $16,138 |
About Empower Schools Inc
Based on IRS filings
Empower Schools Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $80K. Net investment income was $164K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Empower Schools Inc is led by Alyssa Morton, CEO & Partner since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 12 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alyssa Morton
CEO & Partner
Partner → CEO & Partner, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $176K (2025)
Carey Davis
Director
Clerk → Clerk & Director, 2024
Clerk & Director → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$80K (2022) → $124K (2025)
Barry Tyler
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$106K (2023) → $107K (2025)
Hannah Foley
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $113K (2025)
Malik Stewart
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$108K (2023) → $127K (2025)
Lauren Hall
Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
Brett Alessi
Co-Founder & Partner
Treasurer & Co-Founder → Treasurer, Co-Founder & Partner, 2022
Treasurer, Co-Founder & Partner → Co-Founder & Partner, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$154K (2020) → $183K (2025)
Cara McKenna
COO & Treasurer
Partner → COO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $131K (2025)
Matthew Matera
Partner
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$112K (2020) → $163K (2025)
Sarah Robb
Partner
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$118K (2021) → $144K (2025)
Ankita Rao
Clerk
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$9K (2025)
Rebecca Armstrong-English
Clerk
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$90K (2025)
Chris Gabrieli
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
President & Co-Founder → President, Co-Founder & Partner, 2022
President, Co-Founder & Partner → Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Seawell
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Boak
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Shropshire
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naeha Dean
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Grant
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Jose Alvarez (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Himanvi Kopuri (2024) — Clerk
- Former: Sara Butler (2024) — Director
- Former: Paymon Rouhanifard (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Erika Giampietro (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Seth Rau (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Carey Lawrence (2021) — Officer - Clerk
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 $183K, to Brett Alessi (Co-Founder and Partner). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Empower Schools Inc
How much does Empower Schools Inc give each year?
Empower Schools Inc gave $80K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
What is Empower Schools Inc's typical grant size?
Empower Schools Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,593, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Empower Schools Inc give grants?
Empower Schools Inc gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Empower Schools Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Empower Schools Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Rural Pathways Launch and Implementation Support" (3 grants).
How large is Empower Schools Inc?
Empower Schools Inc reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.5M.
What is Empower Schools Inc?
Empower Schools Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. It holds $6.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Empower Schools Inc's EIN?
Empower Schools Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3534001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Empower Schools Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund Inc
Boston, MA
The fund awards need- and merit-based scholarships to full-time students pursuing bachelor’s degrees who permanently reside in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont; recipients may attend college anywhere in the United States. Awards generally range from $3,000 to $17,000, with typical annual awards of $6,000 to $10,000. It accepts applications through an online student portal; the profile does not describe other unsolicited requests.
Assets
$41.6M
Grants
520
Total Given
$5.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Empower Schools Inc'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.
Empower Schools Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?