Nonprofit · EIN 56-1670472
SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER
Tax-exempt · DURHAM, NC 27704
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,841,902 | $1,754,634 | $87,268 | $302,331 | $28,709 | $273,622 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $1,578,274 | $1,666,015 | -$87,741 | $313,841 | $152,337 | $161,504 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $1,384,803 | $1,547,177 | -$162,374 | $443,503 | $195,705 | $247,798 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $109,657
- Program service revenue
- $1,717,757
- Investment income
- $13,468
- Net income from sales of inventory
- $1,013
- Other revenue
- $1,020
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $7,109
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $104,125
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,102,158
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,378,883
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $2,589
- Accounting fees
- $77,981
- Occupancy
- $8,248
- Travel
- $3,776
- Depreciation
- $11,154
- Program services (functional)
- $1,494,402
- Management and general (functional)
- $211,237
- Fundraising (functional)
- $48,995
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $313,841
- Total assets, end of year
- $302,331
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $28,709
- Net assets, end of year
- $273,622
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,939
- Publicly traded securities
- $39,096
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $238,021
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $35,601
- Gross receipts
- $1,871,353
- Employees
- 108
- Volunteers
- 23
- Year formed
- 1989
- State of legal domicile
- NC
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY TONKER | CEO Officer | 48 | $104,125 | $19,789 |
| ROBIN MURCHISON | BOARD CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| LAUREL WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| HEATHER SMITH | TREASURER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LILLIE COOPER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AMBER SHORT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RENEE STRNAD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| EMILY WALLACE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JUSTIN WOOD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TAMI POLGE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICH SWAIN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TERRI PHOENIX | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SARAH WEISSBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOE DILLON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| WES GILLETTE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy Tonker | CEO Officer | 45 | $101,418 | $11,195 |
| Robin Murchison | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| Jennifer Costanza | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mickey Fanney | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Laurel Williams | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Mizelle | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Heather Smith | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Lillie Cooper | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Erin Selzler | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amber Short | Co-Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Renee Strnad | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Emily Wallace | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Justin Wood | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Tami Pogle | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amy Johnson | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jochen Schwarz | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendy Tonker | CEO Officer | 40 | $96,729 | $10,156 |
| Robin Murchison | Board Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 | $0 |
| Jennifer Costanza | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mickey Fanney | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amy Johnson | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Elizabeth Mizelle | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Offenberg | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jochen Schwarz | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Erin Selzler | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Amber Short | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Renee Strnad | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Emily Wallace | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Justin Wood | Board Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 3600 N DUKE ST STE 1 PMB 1419, DURHAM, NC 27704-1769
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- ROBIN MURCHISON, 1821 HILLANDALE RD 1B 268, DURHAM, NC 277052671
- Signed the 990
- ROBIN MURCHISON, BOARD CHAIRPERSON
- Phone
- (919) 477-2116
- Website
- WWW.SCHOOLHOUSEOFWONDER.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CITRIN COOPERMAN ADVISORS LLC
Mission
SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER CREATES KIND, CURIOUS, AND CONFIDENT KIDS THROUGH NATURE-BASED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.
Program accomplishments
- CAMPS: AWARD-WINNING, YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR DAY CAMPS WITH AREAS OF FOCUS THAT INCLUDE NATURE EXPLORATION, NATURALIST SKILLS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS (CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM), SOCIAL AWARENESS, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING. 4,864 CAMP SEATS WERE FILLED BETWEEN JANUARY-DECEMBER 2025.Expenses $1,423,967 · grants $7,109 · revenue $1,614,734
- FIELD TRIPS: EACH DAY-LONG FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE ALLOWS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR SENSE OF WONDER THROUGH ACTIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING INCLUDING ADVENTURES IN SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATH, MUSIC, AND FOLKLORE. TOPICS INCLUDE: FOREST ECOSYSTEMS & LIVING ORGANISMS, ENO PLANT WALK, INSECT ADVENTURES, GEOLOGY, EARLY AMERICAN LIFE, NATIVE WAYS, AND SURVIVAL SKILLS. IN 2025, 2,312 STUDENTS WERE SERVED.Expenses $44,732 · revenue $19,506
- LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNIES FOR 13-17 YEAR OLDS TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP STYLE AND PRACTICE NECESSARY LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN OUR AWARD-WINNING OUTDOOR DAY CAMPS. SKILL BUILDING OCCURS THROUGH THE CREATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS, REAL TIME FEEDBACK, AND A WEEKLY COACHING SESSION WITH SENIOR STAFF TO ASSESS INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS. DURING 2025, WE HAD 338 WEEK-LONG TRAINING EXPERIENCES FOR 13-15 YEAR OLDS, AND 23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIES FOR 16-17 YEAR OLDS.Expenses $25,703 · revenue $84,530
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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 56-1670472
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1991
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Environment (C600)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $302,331
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,871,353
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $1,841,902 | $1,754,634 | $302,331 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $1,578,274 | $1,666,015 | $313,841 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $1,384,803 | $1,547,177 | $443,503 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $1,097,709 | $977,178 | $635,303 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 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 56-1670472).
Questions about SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER
- What is the EIN of SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER is 56-1670472.
- Is SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1991.
- Are donations to SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER 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 SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names ROBIN MURCHISON.
- Who are the officers and directors of SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 15 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $104,125 (WENDY TONKER, CEO).
- How much revenue does SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,841,902, expenses of $1,754,634 and total assets of $302,331 at year end.
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