Nonprofit · EIN 20-4040597
ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION
Tax-exempt · SAN JOSE, CA 95110
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $178,105,036 | $176,060,565 | $2,044,471 | $255,253,955 | $169,777,476 | $85,476,479 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $187,005,475 | $171,816,807 | $15,188,668 | $271,375,549 | $187,943,541 | $83,432,008 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $169,609,170
- of which government grants
- $161,893,979
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $2,537,397
- Other revenue
- $5,958,469
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $635,812
- Other salaries and wages
- $80,564,258
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $102,172,607
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $489,702
- Accounting fees
- $257,099
- Occupancy
- $16,503,653
- Travel
- $3,605,266
- Depreciation
- $765,127
- Program services (functional)
- $149,056,290
- Management and general (functional)
- $26,490,392
- Fundraising (functional)
- $513,883
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $271,375,549
- Total assets, end of year
- $255,253,955
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $169,777,476
- Net assets, end of year
- $85,476,479
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $6,768,484
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $85,013,825
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $462,654
- Gross receipts
- $178,105,036
- Employees
- 1,396
- Volunteers
- 350
- Year formed
- 2006
- State of legal domicile
- CA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTON SMITH | CEO Officer | 40 | $317,893 | $59,582 |
| LAMAR WADE | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $313,116 | $31,415 |
| MARICELA GUERRERO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CALIFO Highest-paid employee | 40 | $225,536 | $84,331 |
| MARIA HEREDIA | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $274,824 | $30,450 |
| BENJAMIN CARSON | CFO Officer | 40 | $273,284 | $15,159 |
| CHRISTOPHER MURPHY | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFIC Highest-paid employee | 40 | $230,575 | $45,871 |
| KERRY FLANAGAN | NATIONAL CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $249,124 | $0 |
| LOUIS JORDAN | BOARD PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GREG STANGER | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEX TERMAN | BOARD TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR RAYMOND RAVEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOLENE SLOTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARMAINE DETWEILER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBORAH MCGRIFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL FOX | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
14 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR DANIEL VELASCO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| YOLANDA BERNAL SAMANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MALKA BORREGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JULIE MILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| HUGO CASTANEDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MICHELLE MERCADO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| RAJEN SHETH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DANIEL SANCHEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| BRIAN KILB | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| APRIL TAYLOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JUNE NWABARA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DEJA GIPSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TAMARA PETERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DERWIN SISNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 29 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESTON SMITH | CEO Officer | 40 | $346,451 | $20,944 |
| MATTHEW SHAW | CFO (ENDED 06/2024) Officer | 40 | $320,000 | $3,249 |
| MARIA HEREDIA | CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $300,000 | $3,231 |
| LAMAR WADE | CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $294,250 | $3,405 |
| MARICELA GUERRERO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA Highest-paid employee | 40 | $266,511 | $18,561 |
| STEPHEN COLLER | CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $266,346 | $12,429 |
| CHRISTOPHER MURPHY | CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $250,660 | $15,972 |
| BENJAMIN CARSON | CFO (STARTED 06/2024)/LDC EXEC. DIR. Officer | 40 | $221,676 | $8,940 |
| LOUIS JORDAN | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| GREG STANGER | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEX TERMAN | BOARD TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR RAYMOND RAVEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOLENE SLOTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CHARMAINE DETWEILER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEBORAH MCGRIFF | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHAEL FOX | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DR DANIEL VELASCO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| YOLANDA BERNAL SAMANO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MALKA BORREGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JULIE MILLER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HUGO CASTANEDA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MICHELLE MERCADO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RAJEN SHETH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL SANCHEZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN KILB | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| APRIL TAYLOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JUNE NWABARA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DEJA GIPSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| PETER PHILPOTT | BOARD ADVISOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2001 GATEWAY PL STE 230E, SAN JOSE, CA 95110-3719
- In care of
- % JOHN DANNER
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- BENJAMIN CARSON, 2001 GATEWAY PLACE 230E, SAN JOSE, CA 95110
- Signed the 990
- BENJAMIN CARSON, CFO
- Phone
- (877) 806-0920
- Return prepared by
- CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 20-4040597 or by the name ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT NETWORK OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO EXCELLENT SCHOOLS. FOUNDED IN 2006, ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION IS A 501 (C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE CORE OF ROCKETSHIP'S INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL IS A TEACHER-LED, TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED APPROACH TO PERSONALIZED LEARNING THAT MATCHES EACH STUDENT WITH THE RIGHT CONTENT AT THE RIGHT TIME UTILIZING THE RIGHT METHOD OF INSTRUCTION. BY DEEPLY ENGAGING PARENTS IN THEIR STUDENT'S LEARNING AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, ROCKETSHIP DEVELOPS PARENTS WHO BECOME LIFELONG ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR COMMUNITY. WORKING ALONGSIDE PARENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DISTRICTS, AND OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS, ROCKETSHIP IS CATALIZING A MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN OUR LIFETIME.
Program accomplishments
- ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION MANAGES, OPERATES, AND PROMOTES A NETWORK OF PUBLIC ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOLS SERVING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 STUDENTS IN HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES. ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION DIRECTLY OPERATES SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA AND TENNESSEE WITH APPROXIMATELY 7,600 STUDENTS.Expenses $149,056,290 · revenue $5,933,778
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 20-4040597
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- School
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B29)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $255,253,955
- Income (IRS master file)
- $178,105,036
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $178,105,036 | $176,060,565 | $255,253,955 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $187,005,475 | $171,816,807 | $271,375,549 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $173,897,710 | $158,613,754 | $251,235,558 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $138,926,108 | $136,945,189 | $74,996,773 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 20-4040597).
Questions about ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION
- What is the EIN of ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION is 20-4040597.
- Is ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names BENJAMIN CARSON.
- Who are the officers and directors of ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 29 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $317,893 (PRESTON SMITH, CEO).
- How much revenue does ROCKETSHIP EDUCATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $178,105,036, expenses of $176,060,565 and total assets of $255,253,955 at year end.
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