Nonprofit · EIN 20-4840080
HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC
Also known as BRIGHT MINDS FO
Tax-exempt · ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21042
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $414,704 | $432,017 | -$17,313 | $243,718 | $12,664 | $231,054 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $420,786 | $421,077 | -$291 | $258,695 | $10,328 | $248,367 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $399,896 | $346,810 | $53,086 | $248,658 | $0 | $248,658 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $342,860
- of which government grants
- $85,460
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $502
- Net income from fundraising events
- $71,342
- Other revenue
- $71,342
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $255,483
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $69,500
- Other salaries and wages
- $36,494
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $116,590
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $8,910
- Program services (functional)
- $333,580
- Management and general (functional)
- $42,523
- Fundraising (functional)
- $55,914
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $258,695
- Total assets, end of year
- $243,718
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $12,664
- Net assets, end of year
- $231,054
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $47,013
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $184,041
- Gross receipts
- $452,014
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 25
- Year formed
- 2006
- State of legal domicile
- MD
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Van Kirk | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $69,500 |
| Susan Padgett | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Anne Santos | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Clarissa Evans | Director Emeritus Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Mae Beale | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Mark Robins | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Ellen Flynn Giles | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Nicole Anderson | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Porter | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Kim Young | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tonya Harris | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Alexandra Kim | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| William Barnes | Ex-Officio Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Seema Agarwal-Harding | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Gerald Kelly | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
7 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakesh Pillai | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dominic Powell | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jason Whong | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lisa Terry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 12 | $0 |
| Christie Lassen | Chair as of 72025 Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| Mary Brzezinski | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 |
| Raymond Brown | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 22 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Van Kirk | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $68,625 |
| Jahantab Siddiqui | Ex-Officio Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Seema Agarwal-Harding | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tonya Harris | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Alexandra Kim | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dominic Powell | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jason Whong | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Rakesh Pillai | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Raymond Brown | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Gerald Kelly | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Kim Young | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Mae Beale | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lance Cook | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Padgett | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Clarissa Evans | Director Emeritus Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Ellen Flynn Giles | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Porter | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Bevin Philip | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Christie Lassen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lisa Terry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 12 | $0 |
| Mary Brzezinski | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 |
| Kim Sweatt | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Van Kirk | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $67,250 |
| Susan Porter | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Bevin Philip | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Meg Moon | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Kim Young | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Alexandra Kim | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Tonya Harris | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Jahantab Siddiqui | Ex-Officio Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Mae Beale | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Dr Clarissa Evans | Director Emeritus Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Susan Padgett | Immediate Past Chair Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Christie Lassen | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Ellen Flynn Giles | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lance Cook | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| Lisa Terry | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 12 | $0 |
| Mary Brzezinski | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 6 | $0 |
| Kim Sweatt | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- DBA BRIGHT MINDS FOUNDATION, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21042-0000
- In care of
- % CHRISTIE LASSEN
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Jennifer Van Kirk, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
- Signed the 990
- CHRISTIE LASSEN, Chair as of 72025
- Phone
- (410) 313-8992
- Return prepared by
- Mullins PC
Mission
Bright Minds improves education outcomes for all Howard County public school students by bringing together community support to address resource & opportunity gaps faced by students and educators
Program accomplishments
- Resources for Learning: Bright Minds has worked since its founding to remove barriers to learning and ensure students have access to resources they need to succeed. Bright Minds partners with HCPSS to provide emergency assistance and supplies to students experiencing homelessness to reduce education disruption and dropout. Bright Minds also supported investments in science and career and technical education technology, equipment, and supplies used in all high schools; the delivery of out-of-school credit recovery tutoring for at-risk students; and the distribution of 3,723 Chromebooks to families in need. Since 2020, Bright Minds has raised nearly $675,000 for critical educational resources and support that has reached students in all county schools.Expenses $155,408 · grants $89,019
- Teacher Support & Development: Bright Minds Classroom Grants help educators pilot innovative instructional projects that support student success, enrich teaching practices, strengthen school communities, and pilot important projects that can be considered for broader implementation. Since 2009, Bright Minds has awarded $308,354 in grants to more than 200 educators. Bright Minds administers Teacher Externships, which provide summer workplace learning opportunities that strengthen teaching relevance and educator retention. During the last 4 years of the program, 16 externs were hosted by 10 area employers.Expenses $84,840 · grants $77,573
- Early Childhood Literacy: Since 2019, Bright Minds has served as the local affiliate for Dolly Partons nationally-recognized Imagination Library. Our Read With Me-Howard County program sends participating children an age-appropriate book each month from birth through age five. The program builds emergent literacy skills, inspires a love of reading, encourages parent-child interaction, and prepares children for kindergarten. More than 4,257 county children received 91,385 books thus far.Expenses $52,126 · grants $50,591
- Student Scholarships:Bright Minds administers memorial and honorary post-secondary scholarships that help make college more accessible for graduates. Bright Minds has also helped HCPSS students earn college credits and explore career options through the JumpStart dual enrollment program by providing books/course fee scholarships for students eligible for Free and Reduced Meals. Since 2015, Bright Minds has administered 25 scholarship funds and awarded $292,630 in scholarships to more than 650 students from all county schools.Expenses $41,206 · grants $38,300
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
- 20-4840080
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- 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 (B122)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $243,718
- Income (IRS master file)
- $452,014
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $414,704 | $432,017 | $243,718 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $420,786 | $421,077 | $258,695 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $399,896 | $346,810 | $248,658 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $336,895 | $277,016 | $195,572 | 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 20-4840080).
Questions about HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC
- What is the EIN of HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC is 20-4840080.
- Is HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC 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 HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC 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 HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC 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 HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Jennifer Van Kirk.
- Who are the officers and directors of HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 22 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $69,500 (Jennifer Van Kirk, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $414,704, expenses of $432,017 and total assets of $243,718 at year end.
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