Nonprofit · EIN 85-2365942
MERIT ACADEMY
Tax-exempt · WOODLAND PARK, CO 80863
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $6,700,512 | $8,796,135 | -$2,095,623 | $4,298,978 | $9,090,212 | -$4,791,234 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $5,376,591 | $6,820,950 | -$1,444,359 | $5,019,191 | $7,714,802 | -$2,695,611 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $759,863
- of which government grants
- $206,494
- Program service revenue
- $5,928,003
- Investment income
- $10
- Other revenue
- $12,636
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $251,549
- Other salaries and wages
- $3,592,941
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $7,149,370
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $3,097
- Accounting fees
- $10,500
- Occupancy
- $15,468
- Travel
- $5,526
- Depreciation
- $5,951
- Program services (functional)
- $7,836,919
- Management and general (functional)
- $959,216
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $5,019,191
- Total assets, end of year
- $4,298,978
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $9,090,212
- Net assets, end of year
- -$4,791,234
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $29,755
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$4,987,734
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $196,500
- Gross receipts
- $6,700,512
- Employees
- 125
- Volunteers
- 20
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- CO
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwynne Pekron | Headmaster Officer | 60 | $86,325 | $40,661 |
| Leanna Tally | CFO Officer | 60 | $90,581 | $25,275 |
| Nicole Waggoner | Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Ledlie | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Sekowski | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Dill | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Katie Illingworth | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwynne Pekron | Headmaster Officer | 60 | $79,547 | $32,937 |
| Leanna Tally | CFO Officer | 60 | $46,733 | $16,667 |
| Nicole Waggoner | Member Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Jason Ledlie | President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Mary Sekowski | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| John Dill | Vice President Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Katie Illingworth | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 500 E KELLY RD, WOODLAND PARK, CO 80863-1426
- Mailing address (990-N for 2020)
- PO Box 363, Woodland Park CO 80866
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Gwynne Dawdy Pekron, 500 East Kelleys Road, Woodland Park, CO 80863
- Principal officer (990-N for 2020)
- Nicole Wagonner, PO Box 363, Woodland Park CO 80866
- Signed the 990
- Gwynne Dawdy Pekron, Headmaster
- Phone
- (719) 686-2274
- Website
- https://www.merit.academy/
- Return prepared by
- Hoelting & Company Inc
Mission
Merit Academy will cultivate the minds and nurture the hearts of K-12 youth in the Ute Pass/Woodland Park region with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue, employing honored foundations of classical education and Core Knowledge.
Program accomplishments
- Merit Academy will cultivate the minds and nurture the hearts of K-12 youth in the Ute Pass/Woodland Park region with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue, employing honored foundations of classical education and Core Knowledge.Expenses $7,836,919 · revenue $5,940,639
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
- 85-2365942
- 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
- 2020
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $4,298,978
- Income (IRS master file)
- $6,700,512
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $6,700,512 | $8,796,135 | $4,298,978 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $5,376,591 | $6,820,950 | $5,019,191 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $4,399,236 | $5,781,676 | $4,326,463 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $2,734,807 | $2,567,152 | $1,211,326 | IRS |
| 990-N for 2020 Officer: Nicole Wagonner | June 30, 2021 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 MERIT ACADEMY
- What is the EIN of MERIT ACADEMY?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MERIT ACADEMY is 85-2365942.
- Is MERIT ACADEMY tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2020.
- Are donations to MERIT ACADEMY tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MERIT 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 MERIT 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 MERIT 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 MERIT ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Gwynne Dawdy Pekron.
- Who are the officers and directors of MERIT ACADEMY?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 7 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $86,325 (Gwynne Pekron, Headmaster).
- How much revenue does MERIT ACADEMY have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,700,512, expenses of $8,796,135 and total assets of $4,298,978 at year end.
Other nonprofits in WOODLAND PARK
- TELLER PARK EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL EIN 83-3382748 · last filed 990 for 2025
- FAITHFUL HEARTS EQUINE LEARNING EIN 84-3812582 · last filed 990 for 2025
- LINKS INTERNATIONAL INC EIN 20-0303063 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- MOUNTAIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB EIN 74-2322699 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- MADAGASCAR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES INC EIN 46-3713059 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- WOODLAND PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION EIN 26-3242666 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- WOODLAND PARK COMMUNITY SINGERS INC EIN 84-1445650 · last filed 990-N for 2025
- TELLER HOUSING HUB EIN 99-4508470 · last filed 990-N for 2025