Nonprofit · EIN 20-8967421
MAKING WAVES ACADEMY
Tax-exempt · RICHMOND, CA 94806
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $28,031,939 | $28,096,403 | -$64,464 | $16,356,230 | $6,664,393 | $9,691,837 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $30,342,025 | $28,706,466 | $1,635,559 | $17,051,335 | $7,295,034 | $9,756,301 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $29,259,158 | $28,129,220 | $1,129,938 | $15,269,756 | $7,149,014 | $8,120,742 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $27,641,441
- of which government grants
- $19,974,044
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $390,498
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,193,529
- Other salaries and wages
- $11,884,920
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $16,794,062
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $76,929
- Accounting fees
- $42,105
- Occupancy
- $3,374,498
- Travel
- $38,524
- Depreciation
- $18,201
- Program services (functional)
- $26,286,864
- Management and general (functional)
- $1,809,539
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $17,051,335
- Total assets, end of year
- $16,356,230
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $6,664,393
- Net assets, end of year
- $9,691,837
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $233,094
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,491,837
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $6,200,000
- Gross receipts
- $28,031,939
- Employees
- 221
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 2007
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTON B NELSON JR | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $339,071 | $89,356 |
| ELIZABETH MARTINEZ | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $212,880 | $34,307 |
| TAMEKA JACKSON | PRINCIPAL Highest-paid employee | 40 | $201,586 | $41,414 |
| DAMON EDWARDS | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $206,713 | $35,560 |
| HUNG MAI | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THROUGH 6/25 Officer | 40 | $159,234 | $26,366 |
| KATHARINE MASON | DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $152,509 | $28,695 |
| ATHENA DRAPER | IT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $155,306 | $14,537 |
| ARIKA SPENCER-BROWN | DIR. OF COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING Highest-paid employee | 40 | $118,805 | $44,283 |
| ALONSO RIVERA | HEALTH & WELLNESS TEACHER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $113,194 | $41,611 |
| ALICA KLEIN | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
| ENRIQUE ROMERO | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JANIS GLOVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR ESTHER HUGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| FELICIA SELVA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY OBINYAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
1 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARGARET WATSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTON B NELSON JR | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $347,953 | $85,068 |
| DAMON EDWARDS | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $189,914 | $37,535 |
| KAREN SNIDER | DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL ED. Highest-paid employee | 50 | $176,179 | $38,751 |
| ELIZABETH MARTINEZ | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $172,837 | $31,723 |
| XIUSHI WEI END 624 | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 50 | $178,335 | $16,797 |
| HUNG MAI | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 50 | $165,372 | $29,219 |
| JEFF HAZEL | DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Highest-paid employee | 50 | $131,563 | $58,024 |
| ATHENA DRAPER | IT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $148,013 | $16,552 |
| ALICA KLEIN | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
| JANIS GLOVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR ESTHER HUGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA LAUGHLIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LAYLA NARAJON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| AMY OBINYAN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET WATSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTON B NELSON JR | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 50 | $336,643 | $77,201 |
| ELIZABETH MARTINEZ | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee | 50 | $202,463 | $32,165 |
| XIUSHI WEI | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer | 50 | $208,794 | $22,832 |
| DAMON EDWARDS | CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Highest-paid employee | 50 | $178,277 | $35,030 |
| KAREN SNIDER | DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION Highest-paid employee | 50 | $164,884 | $34,369 |
| JEFF HAZEL | DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Highest-paid employee | 50 | $143,154 | $55,999 |
| HUNG MAI | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Highest-paid employee | 50 | $153,034 | $27,440 |
| ATHENA DRAPER | IT DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 50 | $140,013 | $21,269 |
| ALICA KLEIN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
| ANA BARRON | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JANIS GLOVER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR ESTHER HUGO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JESSICA LAUGHLIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| LAYLA NARANJO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET WATSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 4123 LAKESIDE DR, RICHMOND, CA 94806-1942
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ALTON B NELSON JR, 4123 LAKESIDE DRIVE, RICHMOND, CA 94806
- Signed the 990
- ALTON B NELSON JR, CEO
- Phone
- (510) 262-1511
- Website
- WWW.MAKINGWAVESACADEMY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 20-8967421 or by the name MAKING WAVES ACADEMY.
- 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
RIGOROUSLY AND HOLISTICALLY PREPARING STUDENTS TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE TO AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE TO ULTIMATELY BECOME VALUABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE WORKFORCE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Program accomplishments
- MAKING WAVES ACADEMY ENSURES THAT OUR YOUTH ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE TO AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. MAKING WAVES ACADEMY SERVED OVER 1,075 CHILDREN IN THE FY 24/25.Expenses $26,286,864
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
- 20-8967421
- 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
- 2009
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B29)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $16,356,230
- Income (IRS master file)
- $28,031,939
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $28,031,939 | $28,096,403 | $16,356,230 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $30,342,025 | $28,706,466 | $17,051,335 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $29,259,158 | $28,129,220 | $15,269,756 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $27,331,193 | $26,024,225 | $9,802,840 | 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 20-8967421).
Questions about MAKING WAVES ACADEMY
- What is the EIN of MAKING WAVES ACADEMY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MAKING WAVES ACADEMY is 20-8967421.
- Is MAKING WAVES ACADEMY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2009.
- Are donations to MAKING WAVES ACADEMY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MAKING WAVES ACADEMY 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 MAKING WAVES ACADEMY 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 MAKING WAVES ACADEMY 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 MAKING WAVES ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names ALTON B NELSON JR.
- Who are the officers and directors of MAKING WAVES ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 16 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $339,071 (ALTON B NELSON JR, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER).
- How much revenue does MAKING WAVES ACADEMY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $28,031,939, expenses of $28,096,403 and total assets of $16,356,230 at year end.
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