2026-07-02T09:50:02-07:00 2025-12-31 204006441 Wallace and Nordan LLP PO Box 12065 Raleigh NC 27605 990 2025-01-01 824082527 HIGHER ED WORKS HIGH 9197829322 PO Box 12065 Raleigh NC 27605 David Rice Executive Editor 9196100718 2026-07-01 1 Richard Nordan P01222520 9197829322 2026-06-30 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Public Ed Works David Rice PO Box 12065 Raleigh NC 27605 2286762 0 X publicedworks.org X 2017 NC To encourage citizen support for public education at all levels, emphasizing the link between an educated citizenry and economic prosperity. 22 21 6 0 0 0 1340599 2244929 0 16326 41833 0 1356925 2286762 1000 0 382467 404705 102587 231171 510211 502024 892678 1010316 464247 1276446 961409 2237855 0 0 961409 2237855 To encourage citizen support for public education at all levels, emphasizing the link between an educated citizenry and economic prosperity. 0 0 526868 1000 2286762 Higher Ed Works dba as Public Ed Works continued in 2025 to expand - expand its budget, expand its staff and expand its audience. Thanks to one magnanimous donor in particular but hundreds of other supporters as well, the organization grew its budget to more than $1 million, yet it finished the year with enough funds on hand to support an additional 15 months of operation. The organization grew its followers on social media to more than 200,000, and its website had 116,000 visitors. Through its newsletter, social channels, and advertising that ranged from billboards to digital media, Higher Ed Works dba Public Ed Works reached nearly 8.8 million people with its messaging, versus 5.9 million in 2024, prompting its audience to take more than 16 million actions. In its messaging, the organization focused on: The inability of the NC General Assembly to pass a budget, making North Carolina the only state in the nation that failed to pass a new budget for 2025-26. How a vast NC expansion in taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools drains budget dollars that otherwise could go to support public schools. No raises for K-12 teachers or other state employees (including community college and university faculty and staff) to keep pace with inflation. The state fell to 46th in average K-12 teacher pay and 50th in funding effort - the percentage of gross domestic product the state devotes to K-12 public education. No increase in enrollment funds for the 17-campus University of North Carolina System - even though, unlike most U.S. universities, the UNC System saw an increase in enrollment in 2024 and 2025. No decision from the NC Supreme Court on the Leandro school-support lawsuit, which had been batted around North Carolina's court system for 31 years since it was first filed in 1994. With its longtime executive director planning to retire in 2026, the organization also hired a new executive director as a successor in the fall of 2025. And it made plans to further expand its messaging in 2026. 0 0 0 526868 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 22 21 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 NC X Ann Sides CPA 9192441634 4 Sides Accounting LLC 109 Morninghills Court Cary NC 27518 David Rice Executive Editor 40 0 X 133207 0 0 Shawnice Meador President/Executive Director 40 X 46831 0 0 Ray F Peck Jr Treasurer/Director 1 X X 0 0 0 Paul Fulton Chairman 5 X 0 0 0 Emma Battle Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Eden Bloss Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Jan R Capps Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Rusty Carter Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Susan Cates Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Melissa Cominole Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Melissa Davis Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Jim Deal Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 William Dudley Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Jennie Hayman Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Melissa Hlavac Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Harold Martin Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 King Prather Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Michael Rogers Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Doug Shackelford Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 John Tate III Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Damon Wade Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 Rob Welch Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 John Wester Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 J Brad Wilson Director 0.5 X 0 0 0 180038 0 0 1 0 0 0 Market Vigor LLC 7709 Amesbury Drive Chapel Hill NC 27514 See Sch B, Part IV 157435 1 2244929 21200 2244929 0 41833 41833 0 0 0 0 0 0 2286762 41833 0 0 X 1000 1000 180038 115225 10802 54011 180695 115645 10842 54208 14677 9393 881 4403 0 29295 18749 1758 8788 130500 130500 53982 53982 21618 21618 102587 102587 54418 54418 21101 11606 2321 7174 1485 1485 7475 7475 Program Communications 153155 153155 0 0 Supplies 4111 0 4111 0 Subscriptions 47677 47677 0 0 Brand and Credit Card Fees 3452 0 3452 0 3050 3050 1010316 526868 252277 231171 62441 51153 897196 2181109 7239 1646 1772 5593 961409 2237855 0 0 X 961409 2237855 0 0 961409 2237855 961409 2237855 1276446 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 746400 653600 647916 1340599 2244929 5633444 746400 653600 647916 1340599 2244929 5633444 1819368 3814076 38 669 26506 16326 41833 85372 5718816 0.66693 0.8457 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 11(f) 2 percent of total support ($5,718,816) is $114,376. There were 7 donors that exceeded this in total contributions across the past 5 years. Paul Fulton: 150,000-114,376 = 35,624; Z Smith Reynolds Foundation: 177,500-114,376 = 63,124; Goodnight Educational Foundation: 210,000-114,376 = 95,624; The McMichael Family Foundation: 125,000-114,376 = 10,624; Kenan Trust: 300,000-114,376 = 185,624; Fred Stanback; 1,500,000-114,376 = 1,385,624; John Bratton: 157,500-114,376 = 43,124. These resulted in a total exceedance of $1,819,368 or 31.81% of total support. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7239 1646 5593 0 0 0 0 5593 X X X X 1 Melissa H Davis 6618 Hawksnest Drive Charlotte NC 28209 Sets up meetings with potential donors 0 0 14387 -14387 Tricia Daisley 12 Rogerson Drive Chapel Hill NC 27517 Contacts potential donors 0 0 25200 -25200 Capital Development Services Inc 915 West 4th Street Suite 100 Winston Salem NC 27101 Contacts potential donors 0 0 63000 -63000 0 102587 -102587 NC Emma Battle Director 157435 See Part V 0 Schedule L, Part IV Emma Battle is a member of the Board of Directors of High Ed Works. Emma Battle is the principal of Market Vigor, LLC. Pursuant to an annual contract between Higher Ed Works and Market Vigor, Higher Ed Works paid Market Vigor $10,875 per month for management services in 2025. In addition, in accordance with the same contract, Market Vigor is paid the greater of: (1) $500.00 per month, or (2) 15% of the amount of digital advertising placed by Market Vigor on behalf of Higher Ed Works for the month. The contract is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 3 Emma Battle is a member of the Board of Directors of High Ed Works. Emma Battle is the principal of Market Vigor, LLC. Pursuant to an annual contract between Higher Ed Works and Market Vigor, Higher Ed Works paid Market Vigor $10,875 per month for management services in 2025. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b A draft copy of the Form 990 is disseminated to members of the Board of Directors for comment, prior to filing Form 990 with the IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board of Directors periodically reviews the written conflict of interest policy with its members and officers. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The Board of Directors determines the compensation of the Executive Director and the Executive Editor, by reviewing the compensation level of Executive Directors and Executive Editors of other Non-Profit Entities of comparable size. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 18 The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws (which include the conflict-of-interest policy), Application for Exempt Status (Form 1023) and all Income Tax Returns (Form 990) are available upon request for examination by any member of the general public. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 The Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, Application for tax exempt status (form 1023) are all available for review by members of the public, upon request. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g Contact Program Production: Total = 54,418; Program Services = 54,418 Total of all = 54,418; Total Program Services = 54,418