Nonprofit · EIN 36-2781597
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Tax-exempt · AURORA, IL 60506
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | 990 | $127,494,882 | $122,670,812 | $4,824,070 | $87,019,610 | $43,210,322 | $43,809,288 |
| August 31, 2024 | 990 (amended) | $104,797,017 | $103,014,777 | $1,782,240 | $65,406,698 | $26,944,312 | $38,462,386 |
| August 31, 2023 | 990 | $88,841,305 | $83,945,197 | $4,896,108 | $57,926,938 | $24,232,691 | $33,694,247 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $2,720,252
- Program service revenue
- $122,611,631
- Investment income
- $2,170,818
- Other revenue
- -$7,819
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $1,505,882
- Other salaries and wages
- $73,732,564
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $90,733,613
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $631,835
- Accounting fees
- $146,476
- Occupancy
- $10,545,922
- Travel
- $1,025,187
- Depreciation
- $884,392
- Program services (functional)
- $111,543,176
- Management and general (functional)
- $11,127,636
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $65,406,698
- Total assets, end of year
- $87,019,610
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $43,210,322
- Net assets, end of year
- $43,809,288
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $12,870,545
- Publicly traded securities
- $25,359,515
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $43,809,288
- Gross receipts
- $127,494,882
- Employees
- 1,631
- Year formed
- 1976
- State of legal domicile
- IL
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 August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian McGowan | Secretary/ Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $329,388 | $64,751 |
| Lynne Nicolas-Gapsis | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 55 | $331,053 | $51,737 |
| Rory Conran | President Trustee or director, Officer | 70 | $343,873 | $27,872 |
| Jason Kudelka | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 55 | $320,702 | $48,822 |
| Johnson Viver | Program Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $185,411 | $61,986 |
| Danyell Taylor-Johnson | Director Key employee | 55 | $180,233 | $57,137 |
| Cara Sullivan | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $209,894 | $9,665 |
| Mary Hernandez | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $199,320 | $16,007 |
| Shawanda Barga | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $191,337 | $17,980 |
| Richard Grenda | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | 50 | $142,766 | $25,859 |
| Laura Mann | Vice President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $633 | $10,803 |
| Elizabeth Conran | President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2024: 12 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Mann | Vice President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $967,314 | $9,016 |
| Brian McGowan | Secretary/ Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $349,530 | $55,745 |
| Lynne Nicolas-Gapsis | Vice President Trustee or director | 55 | $353,263 | $45,395 |
| Rory Conran | President Trustee or director, Officer | 70 | $361,439 | $24,080 |
| Jason Kudelka | Vice President Trustee or director | 55 | $338,900 | $42,466 |
| Danyell Taylor-Johnson | Director Key employee | 55 | $198,731 | $49,463 |
| Johnson Viver | Program Director Highest-paid employee | – | $176,109 | $46,723 |
| Cara Sullivan | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $205,987 | $8,134 |
| Mary Hernandez | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $191,807 | $21,762 |
| Shawanda Barga | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $188,963 | $15,131 |
| Richard Grenda | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $154,886 | $24,444 |
| Elizabeth Conran | President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $100,913 | $8,973 |
990 for the year ended August 31, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynne Nicolas-Gapsis | Vice President Trustee or director | 55 | $266,656 | $32,408 |
| Brian McGowan | Secretary/ Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 60 | $249,830 | $44,816 |
| Rory Conran | President Trustee or director, Officer | 70 | $264,396 | $18,689 |
| Jason Kudelka | Vice President Trustee or director | 55 | $230,271 | $31,813 |
| Laura Mann | Vice President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 20 | $234,489 | $8,590 |
| Danyell Taylor-Johnson | Director Key employee | 55 | $180,600 | $38,094 |
| Mary Hernandez | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $178,989 | $13,583 |
| Cara Sullivan | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $182,727 | $7,302 |
| Shawanda Barga | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $166,051 | $13,583 |
| Nicolette Paplaczyk | Former Director Key employee, Former | – | $178,333 | $0 |
| Richard Grenda | Regional Director Highest-paid employee | – | $139,626 | $21,944 |
| Elizabeth Conran | President Emeritus Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $137,739 | $9,306 |
| Stacy Jantzi | Program Director Highest-paid employee | – | $133,478 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 2471 W SULLIVAN RD, AURORA, IL 60506-6445
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Brian P McGowan, 195 Poplar Place, North Aurora, IL 60542
- Signed the 990
- Brian P McGowan, Chief Financial Officer
- Phone
- (630) 907-2400
- Website
- www.menta.com
- Return prepared by
- Mrjenovich & Bertucci Ltd
Mission
To provide innovative solutions to critical problems in education and human services by holding firmly to the belief that every child has the right to be in school. This belief has led to a continuum of services designed to meet the educational and social-emotional needs of the broad range of students. Continued on Schedule O.
Program accomplishments
- Operations of 32 specialized education programs serving students in Illinois, Arizona, and Texas. During the year, the organization served over 3,000 students referred by more than 500 public school districts. Under the organizations no refusal, no suspension, no expulsion policy, students with significant behavioral, emotional, and educational needs are provided the services they need, when they need them, regardless of their behavior. Programs provide academic instruction, social-emotional support, therapeutic services, vocational and career training, and transition services delivered by teachers, therapists, and support staff. The organizations goal is to ensure that each student becomes college-ready, career-ready, and citizenship-ready.Expenses $111,543,176 · revenue $122,611,631
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 August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | August 31, 2025 | January 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | August 31, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 36-2781597
- 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
- 1977
- Accounting year ends
- August
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B280)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $87,019,610
- Income (IRS master file)
- $127,494,882
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | August 2025 | $127,494,882 | $122,670,812 | $87,019,610 | XML |
| 990 | August 2024 | $104,797,017 | $103,014,777 | $65,406,698 | XML |
| 990 | August 2023 | $88,841,305 | $83,945,197 | $57,926,938 | XML |
| 990 | August 2022 | $62,286,517 | $57,386,781 | $38,039,709 | IRS |
| 990 | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | August 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 36-2781597).
Questions about SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
- What is the EIN of SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES is 36-2781597.
- Is SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1977.
- Are donations to SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 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 SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended August 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 names Brian P McGowan.
- Who are the officers and directors of SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES?
- The 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 12 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $329,388 (Brian McGowan, Secretary/ Treasurer).
- How much revenue does SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES have?
- On its 990 for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $127,494,882, expenses of $122,670,812 and total assets of $87,019,610 at year end.
Other nonprofits in AURORA
- AURORA UNIVERSITY EIN 36-2166964 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AURORA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS EIN 51-0137625 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE EIN 36-2667869 · last filed 990 for 2025
- MAJLIS DAWATUL HAQQ EIN 45-5228792 · last filed 990-PF for 2024
- COVENANT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL EIN 27-1263354 · last filed 990 for 2024
- INDIAN PRAIRIE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION EIN 36-3652236 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC EIN 36-4439461 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WEST AURORA BLACKHAWK SPORTSBOOSTERS EIN 20-4348295 · last filed 990 for 2025