Nonprofit · EIN 20-8457978
THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC
Tax-exempt · TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $2,558,005 | $2,689,335 | -$131,330 | $3,855,155 | $567,011 | $3,288,144 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $2,454,453 | $2,534,568 | -$80,115 | $3,803,090 | $385,753 | $3,417,337 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $2,768,099 | $2,691,316 | $76,783 | $3,847,968 | $350,516 | $3,497,452 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $555,953
- of which government grants
- $189,077
- Program service revenue
- $1,928,309
- Investment income
- $1,673
- Net income from fundraising events
- $72,070
- Other revenue
- $72,070
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $483,665
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $221,779
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,251,348
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,711,465
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $9,606
- Occupancy
- $40,707
- Depreciation
- $58,139
- Program services (functional)
- $2,031,124
- Management and general (functional)
- $570,727
- Fundraising (functional)
- $87,484
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,803,090
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,855,155
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $567,011
- Net assets, end of year
- $3,288,144
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,418,661
- Publicly traded securities
- $43,871
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,184,843
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $103,301
- Gross receipts
- $2,588,351
- Employees
- 76
- Volunteers
- 50
- Year formed
- 2007
- State of legal domicile
- MI
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC WYNN | HEAD OF SCHOOL Officer | 40 | $58,270 |
| KARLINE JENSEN | BUSINESS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $27,532 |
| BRIANNE ALLEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PHIL COCHRAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DINA KENNEDY | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| MEAGAN LUCE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ERIN WORD | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| TISCH SCOTT | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| JOHN STILLWELL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN MALONE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MICHAEL HOROWITZ | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRISTOPHER WALTER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DEB LAKE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MAUREEN OLESON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SAKURA TAKANO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JILL VIGENSKI | HEAD OF SCHOOL Officer | 40 | $93,397 |
| ELLEN NORTHWAY | BUSINESS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $49,779 |
| BRIANNE ALLEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PHIL COCHRAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DINA KENNEDY | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| MEAGAN LUCE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ERIN WORD | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| TISCH SCOTT | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN STILLWELL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN MALONE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANDY WEIR | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| CHRISTOPHER WALTER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DEB LAKE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| MAUREEN OLESON | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SAKURA TAKANO | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JILL VIGENSKI | HEAD OF SCHOOL Officer | 40 | $91,883 |
| ELLEN NORTHWAY | BUSINESS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $46,357 |
| BRIANNE ALLEN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PHIL COCHRAN | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| DINA KENNEDY | PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| MEAGAN LUCE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ERIN WORD | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 3 | $0 |
| TISCH SCOTT | CO-VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN STILLWELL | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KEVIN MALONE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| ANDY WEIR | PAST PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| CHRISTOPHER WALTER | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| DEB LAKE | TRUSTEE Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 11930 S WEST BAY SHORE DR, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 49684-5258
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- KARLINE JENSEN, 11930 S W BAY SHORE DR, TRAVERSE CITY, MI 496845258
- Signed the 990
- KARLINE JENSEN, BUSINESS OFFICER
- Phone
- (231) 995-3800
- Website
- WWW.THEPATHFINDERSCHOOL.ORG
- Return prepared by
- DGN LLC
Mission
THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SERVING CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE. THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER INTELLECTUAL CURIOUSITY AND LOVE OF LEARNING WHICH IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SMALL CLASS SIZES, DEDICATED TEACHERS AND AN ENRICHING, RIGOROUS CURRICULUM. PATHFINDER DRAWS FROM THE FIVE COUNTY GRAND TRAVERSE REGION. APPROXIMATELY 25-33% OF THE STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. PATHFINDER ALSO HOSTS A SEVEN WEEK SUMMER CAMP THAT IS EXPERIENTIAL AND CHILD-CENTERED.
Program accomplishments
- THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL PROVIDES A VIGOROUS EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH THE EIGHTH GRADE. PATHFINDER ALSO HOSTS AN OUTDOOR SUMMER DAY CAMP. PATHFINDER'S PROGRAM IS DISTINGUISHED BY STRONG MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS, BY A SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES A CHILD TO EXPAND HORIZONS AND TAKE RISKS, BY THE NURTURING OF STUDENTS' INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY AND BY THE CULTIVATION OF A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF LEARNING. STUDENTS LEARN TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, TO COLLABORATE, TO TAKE INITIATIVE AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO NURTURE THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.Expenses $2,031,124 · grants $483,665 · revenue $1,928,309
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
- 20-8457978
- 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
- 2007
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,855,155
- Income (IRS master file)
- $2,588,351
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $2,558,005 | $2,689,335 | $3,855,155 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $2,454,453 | $2,534,568 | $3,803,090 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $2,768,099 | $2,691,316 | $3,847,968 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | 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 20-8457978).
Questions about THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC
- What is the EIN of THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC is 20-8457978.
- Is THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2007.
- Are donations to THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL 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 THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL 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 THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL 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 THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names KARLINE JENSEN.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 15 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $58,270 (ERIC WYNN, HEAD OF SCHOOL).
- How much revenue does THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,558,005, expenses of $2,689,335 and total assets of $3,855,155 at year end.
Other nonprofits in TRAVERSE CITY
- NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE FOUNDATION EIN 38-2376475 · last filed 990 for 2025
- GRAND TRAVERSE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION INC EIN 23-7113692 · last filed 990 for 2024
- LEGACY AVIATION LEARNING CENTER EIN 88-2842581 · last filed 990 for 2026
- WRITERS SERIES OF TRAVERSE CITY EIN 27-2470925 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NORTH ED FOUNDATION EIN 36-5071707 · last filed 990 for 2025
- TRAVERSE CITY WEST TITAN ATHLETIC BOOSTERS EIN 38-3479473 · last filed 990 for 2026
- SPRINGTIDE EDUCATION INNOVATIONS EIN 88-1073525 · last filed 990 for 2025
- DOLLY PARTONS IMAGINATION LIBRARY GTR EIN 84-3584288 · last filed 990 for 2024