2026-03-11T08:43:15-05:00 2025-06-30 420731256 MERIWETHER WILSON AND COMPANY PLLC 4500 WESTOWN PARKWAY SUITE 140 WEST DES MOINES IA 502666717 990 2024-07-01 421338832 BY DEGREES FOUNDATION BYDE 5156508230 PO BOX 41070 DES MOINES IA 50311 EMILY WESTERGAARD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 5156508230 2026-02-23 1 0 JONATHAN MAAHS P01536301 5152230002 2026-02-18 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z EMILY WESTERGAARD PO BOX 41070 DES MOINES IA 50311 864285 0 X BYDEGREESFOUNDATION.ORG X 1989 IA EMPOWER CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TO REACH THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS. 16 16 9 50 0 0 891406 864285 0 0 0 0 -12401 -17274 879005 847011 113962 98713 0 0 654189 717339 0 0 182752 113901 161722 882052 977774 -3047 -130763 421193 290430 0 0 421193 290430 X BY DEGREES FOUNDATION WORKS TO INCREASE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND POSTSECONDARY READINESS RATES THROUGH AN EXPANSIVE, K-12 CULTURE OF FUTURE-FOCUSED PLANNING AND SAVING. TO MEET OUR GOALS, WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADDRESS BARRIERS AND INCORPORATE POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS ACTIVITES, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND ASSET BUILDING FOR WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS OF STUDENTS. 0 0 601932 98713 THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED ACADEMIC AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS TO ENSURE THAT MORE STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED STUDENTS IN ITS COHORT PROGRAM NOW IN COLLEGE, AND ALL STUDENTS AT FINDLEY ELEMENTARY, HARDING MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL WITH MENTORING, ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, CAREER GUIDANCE AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES. STUDENTS IN THE COHORT PROGRAM RECEIVED COLLEGE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS, AND STUDENTS THAT STARTED AT FINDLEY ELEMENTARY WERE ELIGIBLE TO EARN MONEY INTO A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT. MORE THAN 2,300 STUDENTS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE ORGANIZATION. 601932 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 0 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 16 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X EMILY WESTERGAARD 5156508230 4000 6TH AVENUE DES MOINES IA 50313 EMILY WESTERGAARD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 45.00 X 118318 0 5876 BRYAN O'NEILL PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 CAROLYN REDDICK VICE PRESIDENT 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JUSTIN GREENWOOD TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 MEGAN MORTIER SECRETARY 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ANNIE BRANDT DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 TARA DEERING-HANSEN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 ROD JOHNSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 KEN MCCULLUM FORMER 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOAN MIDDLETON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 EVERETT MILES DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MATT MOORE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARY KATHERINE NELSON DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NATALIE NGUYEN FORMER 1.00 X 0 0 0 CRAIG OWENS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 DERRICK PRINE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 LAUREN RASMUSSEN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 MONDALE SMITH DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 SABRINA ZENOR DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 118318 0 5876 1 0 0 0 0 71837 792448 864285 0 71837 17274 -17274 -17274 847011 0 0 -17274 98713 98713 124560 83969 22798 17793 477674 322009 87429 68236 27842 18769 5096 3977 32083 21628 5872 4583 55180 37198 10100 7882 11350 11350 23234 11617 11617 6594 1541 4047 1006 2914 2914 4017 4017 4544 308 4236 5351 5351 17736 8868 8868 FUNDRAISING 67658 67658 DUES AND MEMBERSHIP 11446 11446 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMEN 6324 3162 3162 EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE 416 416 138 138 977774 601932 193090 182752 415842 290430 53923 53923 5351 0 421193 290430 0 0 X 412618 83580 8575 206850 421193 290430 421193 290430 -130763 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 659472 548369 793385 891090 864285 3756601 659472 548369 793385 891090 864285 3756601 1132022 2624579 3756601 0.69870 0.62820 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 53923 53923 0 0 847011 0 847011 0 847011 977774 0 977774 0 977774 X X X X 1 ISC CONSULTING 3106 INGERSOLL AVENUE DES MOINES IA 50312 PROFESSIONAL FUNDRAISING 0 50000 45000 5000 ISC CONSULTING 3106 INGERSOLL AVENUE DES MOINES IA 50312 FEASIBILITY STUDY 0 0 21000 -21000 50000 66000 -16000 SWEET DREAMS 71837 71837 17274 71837 71837 17274 17274 -17274 1 POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP/ACCOUNT 203 29133 ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS 2350 32791 PART I, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN K-12 AT FINDLEY ELEMENTARY, HARDING MIDDLE, AND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL. STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THOSE SCHOOLS ARE ELIGIBLE TO EARN MONEY INTO COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS BY MEETING VARIOUS ACADEMIC OR EXTRACURRICULAR MILESTONES. FUNDS IN THOSE COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS TO USE TOWARD POST-SECONDARY EXPENSES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 BRYAN O'NEILL AND MEGAN MORTIER HAVE A FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE ORGANIZATION PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY APPLIES TO ALL DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES THAT MAY INFLUENCE ACTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION. IF A PERCEIVED CONFLICT EXISTS, DISCLSOURE OF ALL RELEVANT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AT WHICH POINT IT IS DETERMINED IF A CONFLICT ACTUALLY EXISTS. IF A CONFLICT IS DECIDED TO EXIST, ANY BOARD MEMBER WITH A CONFLICTING INTEREST IS EXCLUDED FROM DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION, INCLUDING VOTING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PERFORMANCE REVIEW IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY WITH INPUT FROM STAFF, BOARD, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, UTILIZING A THOROUGH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE EVALUATION. A FORMAL REPORT IS PRESENTED TO THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR FINAL APPROVAL. IN EVALUATING, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UTILIZES A THIRD PARTY HUMAN RESOURCES COMPANY FOR COMPARABILITY OF COMPENSATION STRUCTURES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.