Explore Schools Inc
To provide strategic planning, board governance, financial oversight, human resources, and other management support to a network of k-8 charter schools in under-served communities that provide students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a college-preparatory high school.
Explore Schools Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $2,222,414
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $4,608,735
- -6.2% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $28,530
- Expenses (2025)
- $4,170,826
- -17.1% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Explore Schools Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 2 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Explore Schools Inc gives
- Giving grew 1794% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2023) to $270K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $270K.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Explore Charter Schools of Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY | Debt Forgiveness | $269,844 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,222,414 | $4,608,735 | $4,170,826 | — | — | $28,530 |
| 2024 | $1,975,279 | $4,912,689 | $5,033,545 | $269,844 | 1 | — |
| 2023 | $1,605,035 | $4,748,495 | $4,750,257 | $2,400 | Total only | — |
| 2022 | $1,638,975 | $4,621,468 | $4,210,468 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $1,807,544 | $4,043,076 | $4,072,284 | $14,250 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | $1,150,685 | $4,110,842 | $4,427,568 | $20,500 | 1 | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Explore Schools Inc
Based on IRS filings
Explore Schools Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.2M in total assets. Net investment income was $29K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Explore Schools Inc is led by Karen Francois, Chief Executive Officer since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 8 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen Francois
Chief Executive Officer
Managing Director, Curriculum & Instruction → Assistant Superintendent, 2022
Assistant Superintendent → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$176K (2021) → $318K (2025)
Jana Reed
Chair
Chair → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reshma Patel
Chair & Trustee
Trustee → Chair, 2023
Chair → Chair & Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Awo Busumsi
Managing Director of School
Managing Director of Schools & Programs → Managing Director of School, 2024
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$171K (2023) → $196K (2025)
Tiffany Williams
Managing Director of Talent
Managing Director of Hr → Managing Director of Talent, 2025
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$154K (2024) → $173K (2025)
Veronica Woolley
Managing Director of Operations
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$156K (2024) → $178K (2025)
Morty Ballen
Trustee
Chief Executive Officer → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$166K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Jarren Kanze
Senior Director of Special Populations
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$160K (2025)
Lindsay Matovich
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Rebe-Bogulavsky
Chief of School
Assistant Superintendent → Chief of School, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$162K (2020) → $224K (2025)
Qtyashia Arrington
Md of Committee Partnership & Family Eng.
Sd of Community Partnership & Family Eng → Md of Committee Partnership & Family Eng., 2025
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$154K (2023) → $156K (2025)
Efrat Kussell
Chief Academic Officer
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$213K (2025)
Brian Coad
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Jenkins
Vice Chairperson
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Carolyn Mauer (2020–2024) — Executive Director-
- Former: Eun Mee Willm Senior Director (2024) — Of Science, Technology & Math.
- Former: Jarren Kanze Senior Director (2024) — Of Special Populations
- Former: Ashley Dickens (2020–2023) — Managing Director & Finance
- Former: Christina Froeb (2020–2023) — Superintendent · Filing note: Thru 041423
- Former: Nadia Despenza (2023) — Managing Director of Schools & Programs
- Former: Joana Ngo (2020–2022) — Managing Director & Operations
- Former: Lizz Pawlson (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Rachel Modica-Russell (2020–2022) — Managing Director & Talent
- Former: Lindsay Malanga (2020–2021) — Managing Director & School Support
- Former: Graeme Daykin (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Iheyinwa Duru (2020) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Jaime White School (2020) — Leadership Coach
- Former: James McNamara (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Suellyn Scull (2020) — Trustee
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 $318K, to Karen Francois (Chief Executive Officer). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Explore Schools Inc
How large is Explore Schools Inc?
Explore Schools Inc reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What is Explore Schools Inc?
Explore Schools Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. It holds $2.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Explore Schools Inc operate?
Explore Schools Inc has awarded grants in New York.
What is Explore Schools Inc's EIN?
Explore Schools Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3282250. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Explore Schools Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Explore Schools Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?