Nonprofit · EIN 88-2649209
THE SKOLA
Tax-exempt · WHITEFISH, MT 59937
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2025 | 990 | $1,008,253 | $1,143,344 | -$135,091 | $3,734,142 | $772,068 | $2,962,074 |
| July 31, 2024 | 990 | $3,521,766 | $424,652 | $3,097,114 | $3,461,455 | $380,219 | $3,081,236 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $368,248 | $398,350 | -$30,102 | $218,367 | $234,245 | -$15,878 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $312,555
- Program service revenue
- $697,377
- Investment income
- $99
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $99
- Net income from sales of inventory
- -$1,828
- Other revenue
- -$1,778
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $512,880
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $680,482
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $8,368
- Occupancy
- $44,949
- Travel
- $4,688
- Depreciation
- $108,140
- Program services (functional)
- $881,629
- Management and general (functional)
- $252,463
- Fundraising (functional)
- $9,252
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $3,461,455
- Total assets, end of year
- $3,734,142
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $772,068
- Net assets, end of year
- $2,962,074
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $3,415,131
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $2,962,074
- Gross receipts
- $1,014,060
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 120
- Year formed
- 2022
- State of legal domicile
- MT
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 July 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAYSON PETERS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| LAUREN JARROLD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| HEATHER COLES | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| COURTNEY LAABS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY HUDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| CHRIS WRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| MARIELLE CHANG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended July 31, 2024: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BROOKE WHITE OBER | EXECUTIVE DI Trustee or director, Officer | 44 | $35,000 |
| BRITTNEY CREST | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY HUDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
| LAUREN JARROLD | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| COURTNEY LAABS | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 |
| CHRIS WRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 4 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRITTNEY CREST | SECRETARY/TR Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| KIMBERLY HUDSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| LAUREN JARROLD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| COURTNEY LAABS | CHAIRPERSON Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 |
| BROOKE WHITE OBER | EXECUTIVE DI Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $0 |
| CHRIS WRIGHT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1840 E EDGEWOOD DR, WHITEFISH, MT 59937-8117
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- JAYSON PETERS
- Signed the 990
- HEATHER COLES, TREASURER
- Phone
- (406) 871-1524
- Website
- WWW.THESKOLA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- SWIFTCURRENT ACCOUNTING & TAX INC
Mission
WE HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS INSIDE AND OUT, FORM HEALTHY LEARNING HABITS USING THE BEST ACADEMIC RESEARCH, AND BUILD CONNECTIONS IN TOWN AND BEYOND WHERE STUDENTS FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACE.
Program accomplishments
- WE ARE CHANGING THE CULTURE OF LEARNING BY PAIRING WHAT TO KNOW WITH HOW WE GROW OVER THE LAST YEAR THE SKOLA HAS CONTINUED TO GROW THROUGH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND FUNDRAISING MOMENTUM. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS DONATION OF OUR NEW CAMPUS IN JUNE, OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AT THE END OF 2024, RAISING OVER 200,000 TO SUPPORT ESSENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS AND BRING OUR PROGRAMMING TOGETHER ON ONE SITE. WE ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS WITH THE WHITEFISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO PREPARE FOR APPLYING FOR GRANTED FUNDS AND PARTICIPATING IN THEIR ANNUAL COMMUNITY CHALLENGE EVENT. IN ADDITION, THE SKOLA HAS SECURED GRANT FUNDING FROM NUMEROUS FOUNDATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR AS WE EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE CONTINUE TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH FUNDERS WHO BELIEVE IN OUR MISSION AND VISION. IN JANUARY 2024 THE SKOLA SECURED APPROXIMATELY 140,000 IN STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP ORGANIZATION (SSO) FUNDS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR PROGRAMS. THESE MILESTONES REFLECT MORE THAN JUST FINANCIAL PROGRESSTHEY REPRESENT THE DEEPENING SUPPORT OF FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND PARTNERS WHO ARE HELPING US BUILD SOMETHING LASTING. THE SKOLA WAS FOUNDED IN 2021 TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S GROWING NEED FOR AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT EMPHASIZED PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, OUTDOOR EXPLORATION, AND A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL EXPANDED FROM ITS SCANDINAVIAN-INSPIRED FOREST PRESCHOOL, FOXTAIL FRSKOLA, WHICH BEGAN IN 2018, BUILDING ON A FOUNDATION OF FOSTERING PLAY, CURIOSITY, AND A LOVE FOR NATURE. THE SKOLA'S MISSION IS TO CULTIVATE A DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE EMPOWERED TO EXPLORE THEIR WORLD, THINK CRITICALLY, AND DEVELOP A LIFELONG PASSION FOR LEARNING. WE USE RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM AND TEACHERS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO CREATE PROJECTS THAT EMBED THE LEARNING INTO AN EXPERIENTIAL MODEL. PLACE-BASED LEARNING IS AT THE CORE OF OUR PHILOSOPHY, IMMERSING STUDENTS IN THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND CULTIVATING A PROFOUND UNDERSTANDING OF SELF AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALL THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE DONE ACADEMIC PROJECTS CONNECTED TO COMMUNITY NONPROFITS SUCH AS THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THE FOOD BANK, AND THE SAMARITAN HOUSE. THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING, STUDENTS ASK QUESTIONS AND SEEK ANSWERS AMID THE SURROUNDING NATURAL WORLD AND LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE USE A "DRIVING QUESTION" FOR EACH PROJECT, FOLLOWED BY "NEED TO KNOW QUESTIONS" IN ORDER TO ANSWER OUR LARGER DRIVING QUESTION. FOR EXAMPLE, HOW CAN FIRE HARM AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY? BY INTEGRATING HANDS-ON PROJECTS, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, AND A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED CURRICULUM, THE SKOLA PREPARES STUDENTS TO BECOME RESILIENT, INNOVATIVE, AND COMPASSIONATE CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY. THE SKOLA IS IN ITS FOURTH SCHOOL YEAR AND HAS EVOLVED AND GROWN. IN THE FIRST YEAR, THE SCHOOL (THEN CALLED LARK SKOLA) EDUCATED CHILDREN FROM 1ST AND 2ND GRADE AS A NONPROFIT ENTITY. IN ITS SECOND YEAR, IT PURCHASED A NEIGHBORING NATURE-BASED FOR-PROFIT PRESCHOOL, BRINGING THESE AGES TOGETHER UNDER THE CURRENT NAME, THE SKOLA, ON THREE SEPARATE CAMPUS LOCATIONS. IN THE THIRD YEAR, WE RECEIVED A DONATION OF A 10-ACRE CAMPUS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING ALL STUDENTS ON ONE CAMPUS. THIS YEAR WE HAVE 95 STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL TO 4TH GRADE. WE HAVE A STRONG SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND GRANTS. CURRENTLY OVER 23% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS, MAKING SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS EDUCATION. STAFF TRAININGS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST RESEARCH AND TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR TEACHING MODELS. AND WE ARE WORKING TO INCREASE OUR PAY FOR STAFF AND/OR OFFER MORE BENEFITS, KNOWING THE HOUSING AND COST DEMANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE HIGH. PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE PRESENT WEEKLY TO ASSIST IN MAINTAINING THE CAMPS, BRING THEIR OWN EXPERTISE INTO THE CLASSROOM, AND ASSIST THE TEACHERS AS NEEDED. WE HAVE MANY GOALS FOR OUR FUTURE, INCLUDING ADDING 5TH AND 6TH GRADE, ACCREDITATION, AND CONTINUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ALSO, AS A YOUNG SCHOOL, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR STAFF MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL FOUNDATION. THE SKOLA CONTINUES TO DEVELOP OUR FUNDRAISING BY OFFERING MULTIPLE EVENTS EVERY YEAR THAT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, EG A WINE AND PAINTING EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS SUPPORTING OUR ART PROGRAM, AND AN ONLINE "FUND-A-CAUSE" EVENT IN WHICH DONORS MAY CHOOSE EXACTLY WHERE THEIR GIFTS GO. WE ALSO HAD A FUNDRAISER IN LATE 2024 TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP WITH CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS. THERE WAS A MATCH OFFERED BY TWO FAMILIES, AND WE MET THAT MATCH.Expenses $881,629 · revenue $697,377
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 July, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | July 31, 2026 | December 15, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | July 31, 2025 | December 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | July 31, 2024 | December 16, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 88-2649209
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- July
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B24)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $3,734,142
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,014,060
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | July 2025 | $1,008,253 | $1,143,344 | $3,734,142 | XML |
| 990 | July 2024 | $3,521,766 | $424,652 | $3,461,455 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $368,248 | $398,350 | $218,367 | XML |
| 990-EZ | December 2022 | – | – | – | 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 88-2649209).
Questions about THE SKOLA
- What is the EIN of THE SKOLA?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE SKOLA is 88-2649209.
- Is THE SKOLA tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to THE SKOLA tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE SKOLA 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 THE SKOLA due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending July 31, 2026) is due December 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE SKOLA last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended July 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE SKOLA?
- The 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 names JAYSON PETERS.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE SKOLA?
- The 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does THE SKOLA have?
- On its 990 for the year ended July 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,008,253, expenses of $1,143,344 and total assets of $3,734,142 at year end.
Other nonprofits in WHITEFISH
- NORTH VALLEY MUSIC SCHOOL EIN 81-0515034 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WHITEFISH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY EIN 81-0387934 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CHILDRENS HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL EIN 81-0406353 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WHITEFISH SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION EIN 20-3135697 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WHITEFISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL INC EIN 81-0541242 · last filed 990 for 2025
- WHITEFISH UNITED METHODIST CHILDRENS CENTER EIN 20-3294927 · last filed 990 for 2024
- WWC INC EIN 46-1566822 · last filed 990-EZ for 2025
- PERKINS FAMILY FOUNDATION EIN 81-0545377 · last filed 990-PF for 2025