STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
Educating and Empowering Stamford's Next Generation
STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
EIN: 06-1462359
Mission
Mission: Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is to elevate student success by delivering educational programs and solutions that promote equitable access to quality public education in Stamford. Vision: We envision a community in which every student is prepared and inspired to thrive.
Ruling year
1997
CEO
Ms. Lindsay Wyman
Main address
177 Broad Street, 3rd floor
Stamford, CT 06901 USA
EIN
06-1462359
Elementary and secondary education
Secondary education
Elementary education
Education
Population served
Children and youth
Students
Adolescents
Children
Families
NTEE code
Primary/Elementary Schools (B24)
Secondary/High School (B25)
Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (B12)
IRS subsection
501(c)(3) Public Charity
IRS filing requirement
This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Tax forms
Communication
Programs and results
Reports and documents
Download other documentsWhat we aim to solve
Stamford Public School has over 16,000 students. Of these, 59% qualify for free/reduced price lunch (poverty indicator). Further, 66% of students are minority and 71 different languages are spoken at home. Working together with community volunteers and the district, SPEF's mentoring, tutoring, family engagement, and kindergarten readiness programs serve over 1700 students to be better prepared for post-secondary success.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
College and Career Readiness Programs
(1) Stamford Mentoring Program: Serving 540 students in grades 3 through 8
Middle School Mentoring: 140 students will receive holistic support, including mentoring and connections to academic tutoring, enrichment activities, social-emotional resources, and family resources.
Service-Learning Mentoring for Elementary School Students: 400 students will receive 10 sessions of mentoring, culminating in a community project.
(2) Math Tutoring: Providing over 16,000 hours of professional math tutoring.
(3) Scholarships: Administering three different scholarships; distributing $6,000 to low-income, college bound students each year.
Family Engagement Programs
(1) Books Across Stamford: Distributing over 5,000 new books each year throughout Stamford.
(2) Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI): Providing in-depth training to promote strong leadership and advocacy skills; engaged 50 parents and 25 children.
(3) Here-to-Help Network: The Here-to-Help network connects over 500 Stamford students and families to school- and community-based resources and information, such as: childcare support, housing assistance, tutoring, technology assistance, groceries & nutrition, and more.
Kindergarten Readiness Programs
(1) Summer Start Program: Providing entering kindergarten students who have not had a formal preschool experience with a six -week, half-day early education program. The program focuses on developing the literacy and mathematics skills aligned to the Connecticut Core State Standards.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
2017 Stamford NAACP Darwin Davis Corporate Award 2017
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of students served through SPEF's Stamford Mentoring Program
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
College and Career Readiness Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We have restarted our Service Learning Mentoring Program in the elementary schools!
Number of new books given away each year to help build home libraries for pre-K children through 5th grade students.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Family Engagement Programs
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
SPEF received $250,000 in federal funding, amounting to 36,000 books for 12,000 students, and digital resources for 7,700 students. We have already distributed 6,000 of these books at our BAS event.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Founded in 1996, the mission of the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is to elevate student success by delivering educational programs and solutions that promote equitable access to quality public education in Stamford. We envision a community in which every student is prepared and inspired to thrive.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, SPEF is led by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of local residents, professionals, and community members who share the SPEF’s core values:
• We believe all students have the right to benefit equally from a quality public education.
• We believe SPEF has a responsibility to eliminate barriers that hinder students’ success.
• We believe SPEF has strategic relationships and unique insight to support students in their pursuit of happiness.
SPEF provides direct service programming to more than 1700 students, spread throughout all of the 21 of Stamford’s public schools. We work closely with Stamford parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and school administrators in facilitating our programs. We also work closely with other education-related agencies/programs in CT to share best practices.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
- Continue to measure outcomes of all SPEF programs and use the data to improve and expand reach throughout Stamford
- Work with Board Committee in key areas: Finance, Development, Human Resources, Marketing and Programs
- Operationalize the Strategic plan
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Founded in 1996, SPEF has built a strong reputation for delivering programs and resources that connect college, corporate and community volunteers with Stamford Public School students.
SPEF’s Stamford Mentoring Program was launched in 2010, with 46 students from Dolan Middle School. Today, SPEF’s breadth of programs has grown to include:
- College and Career Readiness: Mentoring and Tutoring
- Family Engagement: Books Across Stamford, Parent Leadership Training & Here-to-Help Network
- Kindergarten Readiness: Summer Start
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
• SPEF provides direct service programming to all 21 of Stamford’s public schools
Highlights of the 2021-22 school year included:
- Over 100 volunteers partnered with SPEF staff to support our mission
- Math tutoring was delivered to 141 ninth grade Stamford High and West Hill students
- TutorU program provided tutoring to 95 middle and high school students
- 162 early learners attended Summer Start 2021 to learn kindergarten routines
- Distributed 5,000+ new books (Books Across Stamford)
- Graduated a diverse group of 25 parent leaders from the Parent Leadership Training Institute
- Provided outreach and connections to critical community and school based resources to over 500 students and families through the Here-to-Help Network
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, It is difficult to identify actionable feedback
Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2023 info
2.35
Months of cash in 2023 info
2.2
Fringe rate in 2023 info
10%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
Revenue & expensesFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
| Profitability info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | $11,257 | -$60,751 | $200,433 | -$153,642 | $13,434 |
| As % of expenses | 0.9% | -4.3% | 12.0% | -6.3% | 0.6% |
| Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | $11,257 | -$61,610 | $198,450 | -$155,891 | $11,777 |
| As % of expenses | 0.9% | -4.4% | 11.9% | -6.3% | 0.5% |
| Revenue composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $1,280,065 | $1,377,563 | $1,992,388 | $2,216,288 | $2,158,578 |
| Total revenue, % change over prior year | 24.8% | 7.6% | 44.6% | 11.2% | -2.6% |
| Program services revenue | 41.5% | 33.7% | 47.9% | 53.3% | 53.6% |
| Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Investment income | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 0.0% |
| All other grants and contributions | 58.5% | 66.3% | 42.8% | 40.5% | 46.3% |
| Other revenue | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Expense composition info | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses before depreciation | $1,229,866 | $1,398,208 | $1,665,409 | $2,454,252 | $2,301,091 |
| Total expenses, % change over prior year | 39.8% | 13.7% | 19.1% | 47.4% | -6.2% |
| Personnel | 64.0% | 72.5% | 63.5% | 70.6% | 63.6% |
| Professional fees | 1.7% | 1.6% | 16.0% | 7.0% | 27.2% |
| Occupancy | 1.6% | 2.5% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Interest | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Pass-through | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| All other expenses | 32.7% | 23.4% | 19.5% | 21.5% | 8.0% |
| Full cost components (estimated) info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total expenses (after depreciation) | $1,229,866 | $1,399,067 | $1,667,392 | $2,456,501 | $2,302,748 |
| One month of savings | $102,489 | $116,517 | $138,784 | $204,521 | $191,758 |
| Debt principal payment | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed asset additions | $0 | $5,149 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total full costs (estimated) | $1,332,355 | $1,520,733 | $1,806,176 | $2,661,022 | $2,494,506 |
Capital structure indicators
| Liquidity info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months of cash | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| Months of cash and investments | 3.4 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 1.6 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Balance sheet composition info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $341,137 | $473,074 | $771,112 | $423,299 | $421,014 |
| Investments | $9,394 | $11,391 | $16,255 | $13,543 | $0 |
| Receivables | $38,337 | $28,500 | $61,500 | $8,200 | $100 |
| Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $19,504 | $24,652 | $26,251 | $26,251 | $26,251 |
| Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 100.0% | 82.6% | 85.1% | 93.7% | 100.0% |
| Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 11.7% | 34.5% | 22.3% | 6.4% | 33.5% |
| Unrestricted net assets | $167,901 | $106,291 | $304,741 | $148,850 | $160,627 |
| Temporarily restricted net assets | $179,613 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total restricted net assets | $179,613 | $263,128 | $394,501 | $351,096 | $195,149 |
| Total net assets | $347,514 | $369,419 | $699,242 | $499,946 | $355,776 |
Key data checks
| Key data checks info | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
CEO
Ms. Lindsay Wyman
Lindsay Wyman joined SPEF in September 2018 as the Director of Programming. Previously, Lindsay worked at Eagle Hill School in Greenwich for nine years, where she held positions as a literacy teacher to students with learning disabilities, and served as both a Department Head for the Literature Department and a Lower School Advisor. She then moved to King School, where she developed and oversaw the implementation of curriculum for grades PreK-5 as the Director of Teaching and Learning. Expanding the scope of her literacy work Lindsay then joined LitLife, Inc. as a literacy consultant on a national level, working in public and private schools nationwide to advise and revamp their district literacy programs.
During her tenure at SPEF, Lindsay has lead the Programs team through a period of significant growth. She manages a team of 25 year-round staff, as well as up to 80 seasonal staff during the summer months.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
Board of directorsas of 02/29/2024
Board of directors data
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Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 09/08/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
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- Letter of Determination
- Officer and/or Employee data for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
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