Propel Schools Foundation
The Propel Schools Foundation supports the mission of propel schools: to catalyze the transformation of public education so that all children have access to high-performing public schools. Propel Schools Foundation seeks and accepts donations and other resources that advance our imperative work that empowers our scholars to achieve academic and personal excellence. Funds raised are dispersed to the schools to provide quality programs to the 3,500 scholars attending propel's 13 schools.
Propel Schools Foundation at a glance
In short: Propel Schools Foundation gave $613K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $153K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $612,618
- -46.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $153,155
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $67,718
- Total assets
- $22,205,589
- +34.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Propel Schools Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Propel Schools Inc ($471K). Together the top 4 received $613K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 41 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Propel Schools Foundation gives
- Giving fell 26% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $538K (2021) to $1.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $613K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Propel Schools Inc Pittsburgh, PA | School Programs (Mental Health, Innovation Grants, Etc) | $470,985 |
| Propel Montour Pittsburgh, PA | School Programs (Mental Health, Innovation Grants, Etc) | $121,459 |
| Propel Hazelwood Pittsburgh, PA | School Programs (Mental Health, Innovation Grants, Etc) | $13,977 |
| Propel Braddock Hills Pittsburgh, PA | School Programs (Mental Health, Innovation Grants, Etc) | $6,197 |
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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 | $22,205,589 | $2,698,318 | $1,284,976 | $612,618 | 4 | $731,210 |
| 2024 | $16,476,723 | $700,229 | $1,734,537 | $1,152,446 | 7 | $342,886 |
| 2023 | $16,113,685 | $2,079,115 | $1,368,491 | $835,139 | 8 | $257,773 |
| 2022 | $14,353,776 | $2,693,560 | $1,033,994 | $825,784 | 11 | $555,698 |
| 2021 | $15,165,649 | $887,357 | $1,427,595 | $538,443 | 11 | $274,882 |
| 2020 | $12,968,673 | $1,295,136 | $2,258,890 | $1,212,153 | 11 | $274,475 |
| 2019 | $13,724,831 | $1,568,385 | $1,938,111 | $693,004 | 10 | $281,856 |
About Propel Schools Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Propel Schools Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Pittsburgh, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $22.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $613K. Net investment income was $731K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Propel Schools Foundation is led by Tina Chekan, CEO & Superintendent on every filing since 2021; none of the 19 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tina Chekan
CEO & Superintendent
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald J. Huber
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brendan W. Surma
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Fair
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Helfrich
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Lammie
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Turzai
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Constance Murrary
Senior Director & Propel Sc
Senior Director & Propel Schools Foundation → Senior Director & Propel Sc, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Coleen Davis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diana Defino
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bill Adams
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lacee Ecker
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Baldasare
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Batholomew
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Cancilla
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Wright
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Macikowski
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryann Bradley
Chief Financial Officer Starting
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Ilana Diamond (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Bryan Lewis (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Steve Robinson (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Lara Washington (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Marcia Kelson (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: William J. Axtman (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Greg Cessna (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Jeremy Resnick (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Beth Wright Entered (2020) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Charles Daane Exited (2020) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Jonathan Ray Deputy Dir (2020) — Executive Director · Filing note: Thru
- Former: Tina Chekan Entered (2020) — CEO & Superintendent
- Former: Anne Dugan (2019) — Director
- Former: Charles Daane (2019) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: James Egan (2019) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Ray (2019) — Deputy Director
- Former: Kiron Skinner (2019) — Director
- Former: Roland Coston-Criswell (2019) — Director
- Former: Thomas N. Canfield (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.
Frequently asked questions about Propel Schools Foundation
How much does Propel Schools Foundation give each year?
Propel Schools Foundation gave $613K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 7 grants.
What is Propel Schools Foundation's typical grant size?
Propel Schools Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $67,718, and its average grant was $153,155, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Propel Schools Foundation give grants?
Propel Schools Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (4 grants).
Does Propel Schools Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Propel Schools Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "School Programs (Mental Health, Innovation Grants, Etc)" (4 grants).
How large is Propel Schools Foundation?
Propel Schools Foundation reported $22.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What is Propel Schools Foundation?
Propel Schools Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Pittsburgh, PA. It holds $22.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Propel Schools Foundation's EIN?
Propel Schools Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1100962. 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Propel Schools Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Propel Schools Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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