Nonprofit · EIN 27-3166349
GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tax-exempt · BAKERSFIELD, CA 93311
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $37,138,904 | $37,438,571 | -$299,667 | $59,224,985 | $37,834,201 | $21,390,784 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $38,615,732 | $36,889,617 | $1,726,115 | $53,637,931 | $31,947,480 | $21,690,451 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $36,385,569
- of which government grants
- $35,775,457
- Program service revenue
- $22,810
- Investment income
- $610,946
- Other revenue
- $119,579
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,070,269
- Other salaries and wages
- $19,381,854
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $25,557,692
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $144,600
- Accounting fees
- $47,901
- Occupancy
- $3,580,975
- Travel
- $186,887
- Depreciation
- $421,636
- Program services (functional)
- $32,315,043
- Management and general (functional)
- $5,123,528
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $53,637,931
- Total assets, end of year
- $59,224,985
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $37,834,201
- Net assets, end of year
- $21,390,784
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $12,317,660
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $20,543,083
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $847,701
- Gross receipts
- $37,138,904
- Employees
- 559
- Volunteers
- 5
- Year formed
- 2010
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOC ERVIN | EXECUTIVE LIAISON Officer | 40 | $246,538 | $87,013 |
| RIC ESQUIVEL | CEO/SUPERINTENDENT Officer | 40 | $237,037 | $78,853 |
| ELYSA VARGAS | CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER (THRU 8/24) Key employee | 40 | $213,514 | $44,906 |
| STEVE MCCLAIN | CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $233,399 | $21,930 |
| LACIE HARRIS | PRINCIPAL - SHAFTER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,451 | $55,011 |
| TANYA KELLY | ADMINISTRATOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,365 | $58,956 |
| ALAN BLANDON | DIR. BUS. SVCS/COMPLIANCE Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,396 | $38,606 |
| JENNY BARD | PRINCIPAL - ARVIN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $118,346 | $56,296 |
| ERIC MENDEZ | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,410 | $8,001 |
| TOM MESTMAKER | BOARD PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| MANUEL PANTOJA | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT LOOK | SCHOOLS PARENT REP Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| ERNIE UNRUH | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTEN WATSON | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOC ERVIN | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer | 40 | $254,250 | $154,695 |
| RIC ESQUIVEL | CHIEF OF SCHOOLS Key employee | 40 | $223,285 | $74,835 |
| ELYSA VARGAS | CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER Key employee | 40 | $176,412 | $61,415 |
| JENNY BARD | PRINCIPAL - ARVIN Highest-paid employee | 40 | $141,919 | $73,451 |
| ALAN BLANDON | DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES AND COMPLIANCE Key employee | 40 | $158,526 | $27,721 |
| LACIE HARRIS | PRINCIPAL - SHAFTER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,853 | $49,185 |
| TANYA KELLY | ADMINISTRATOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS Highest-paid employee | 40 | $119,166 | $54,243 |
| STEVE MCCLAIN | CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER Officer | 40 | $159,149 | $6,302 |
| RICHARD PHILLIPS | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS(THRU 12/2023) Highest-paid employee | 40 | $131,886 | $10,080 |
| ERIC MENDEZ | DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Highest-paid employee | 40 | $131,524 | $8,905 |
| TOM MESTMAKER | BOARD PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| MANUEL PANTOJA | BOARD SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| MATT LOOK | SCHOOLS PARENT REP Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| ERNIE UNRUH | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTEN WATSON | BOARD DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 0.25 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 4800 CORPORATE CT, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93311-8706
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- MANUEL PANTOJA, 4800 CORPORATE COURT, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93311
- Signed the 990
- MANUEL PANTOJA, SECRETARY
- Phone
- (661) 885-6081
- Return prepared by
- CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
Mission
A NETWORK OF HIGH-PERFORMING SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THAT EMPOWERS ALL STUDENTS TO THRIVE THROUGH A FOUNDATION OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, AND LIFELONG SUCCESS.
Program accomplishments
- GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A TK8 PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE GREATER ARVIN AND SHAFTER COMMUNITY, SERVING STUDENTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF UNDERPERFORMING ON STATE ASSESSMENTS. OUR MISSION IS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN RURAL KERN COUNTY BY FOSTERING STUDENT EXCELLENCE AND WELLBEING THROUGH A NURTURING AND RIGOROUS LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.EACH YEAR, GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 80 STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN (TK) AND 176 STUDENTS PER GRADE FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE, WITH THE GOAL OF SERVING A TOTAL OF 1,644 STUDENTS ANNUALLY ACROSS TWO TK-8 SCHOOL SITES.Expenses $32,315,043 · revenue $22,810
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
- 27-3166349
- 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
- 2011
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B29)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $59,224,985
- Income (IRS master file)
- $37,138,904
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $32,247,749 | $31,651,399 | $49,586,338 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $28,189,186 | $22,248,776 | $21,571,622 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 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.
Questions about GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
- What is the EIN of GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS is 27-3166349.
- Is GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2011.
- Are donations to GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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 GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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 GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS 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 GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names MANUEL PANTOJA.
- Who are the officers and directors of GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 14 people; 9 received compensation from the organization, the highest $246,538 (DOC ERVIN, EXECUTIVE LIAISON).
- How much revenue does GROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $37,138,904, expenses of $37,438,571 and total assets of $59,224,985 at year end.
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