Nonprofit · EIN 41-1886212
HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY
Tax-exempt · SAINT PAUL, MN 55104
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $20,573,848 | $20,011,883 | $561,965 | $18,453,608 | $10,230,709 | $8,222,899 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $19,768,393 | $19,283,536 | $484,857 | $18,075,430 | $10,414,496 | $7,660,934 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $19,189,915 | $17,123,856 | $2,066,059 | $18,470,121 | $11,294,044 | $7,176,077 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $20,397,280
- of which government grants
- $20,367,035
- Program service revenue
- $27,021
- Investment income
- $149,547
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $315,415
- Other salaries and wages
- $8,753,175
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $11,759,342
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $179,188
- Occupancy
- $2,310,541
- Travel
- $116,902
- Depreciation
- $150,737
- Program services (functional)
- $14,666,104
- Management and general (functional)
- $5,345,779
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $18,075,430
- Total assets, end of year
- $18,453,608
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $10,230,709
- Net assets, end of year
- $8,222,899
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $957,246
- Gross receipts
- $20,573,848
- Employees
- 208
- Volunteers
- 10
- Year formed
- 1997
- State of legal domicile
- MN
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL YIGZAW | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 42 | $197,175 | $27,037 |
| LIBAN AHMED | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 42 | $69,014 | $17,099 |
| DANIEL MCGRATH | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE TOUSSAINT | VICE CHAIR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SWERINE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BASIMA MOHAMUD | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHANNON TANGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY TATE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL YIGZAW | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 42 | $196,700 | $26,155 |
| LIBAN AHMED | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $63,275 | $13,904 |
| NELIYA TKACHENKO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 42 | $68,397 | $8,378 |
| DANIEL MCGRATH | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE TOUSSAINT | VICE CHAIR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SWERINE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHANNON TANGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY TATE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAMUEL YIGZAW | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee | 42 | $211,861 | $26,155 |
| NELIYA TKACHENKO | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 42 | $69,775 | $2,371 |
| DANIEL MCGRATH | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DENISE TOUSSAINT | VICE CHAIR/TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BRIAN SWERINE | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ABDIRASHID MUSE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHANNON TANGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARY TATE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1381 MARSHALL AVE, SAINT PAUL, MN 55104-6315
- In care of
- % WILLIAM L WILSON
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- SAMUEL YIGZAW, 1381 MARSHALL AVE, ST PAUL, MN 55104
- Signed the 990
- SAMUEL YIGZAW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (651) 645-1000
- Website
- WWW.HGACADEMY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SCHLENNER WENNER & CO CPA'S PA
Mission
TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, ETHICAL, AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO ARE READY FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. TO THAT END, STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM THE ACADEMY WILL BE COLLEGE READY, STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ETHICAL CITIZENS WHO VALUE HARD WORK, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, EQUITY, AND DIVERSITY.
Program accomplishments
- THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENT'S MAXIMUM INTELLECTUAL AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO MEET 21ST CENTURY STANDARDS OF EDUCATION THROUGH CONCERTED PREPARATION TO PURSUE POST-SECONDARY AND POST-BACCALAUREATE STUDIES. IT IS INTENDED THAT STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY WILL BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN THEIR FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 THE ACADEMY SERVED AN ESTIMATED 1,137 STUDENTS.Expenses $14,666,104 · revenue $27,021
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
- 41-1886212
- 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
- 1999
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B25)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $18,453,608
- Income (IRS master file)
- $20,573,848
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $20,573,848 | $20,011,883 | $18,453,608 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $19,768,393 | $19,283,536 | $18,075,430 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $19,189,915 | $17,123,856 | $18,470,121 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $19,599,738 | $16,627,339 | $16,745,157 | 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 41-1886212).
Questions about HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY
- What is the EIN of HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY is 41-1886212.
- Is HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1999.
- Are donations to HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does HIGHER GROUND 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 HIGHER GROUND 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 HIGHER GROUND 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 HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names SAMUEL YIGZAW.
- Who are the officers and directors of HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 8 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $197,175 (SAMUEL YIGZAW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does HIGHER GROUND ACADEMY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $20,573,848, expenses of $20,011,883 and total assets of $18,453,608 at year end.
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