THE COTTAGE SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

THE COTTAGE SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER INC

EIN 58-1484540 · Education (B90Z)

What they do

BUILDING A SENSE of SELF for STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS THROUGH ACADEMIC and EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING, THE COTTAGE SCHOOL ("TCS") PREPARES INDIVIDUALS for FULFILLMENT of THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL AS CONFIDENT, PRODUCTIVE and INDEPENDENT ADULTS. TCS PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING for ADOLESCENTS WHO HAVE A HISTORY of LEARNING DISABILITIES. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE is A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER of STUDENTS, GRADES 3-12, WHO ARE PREVENTED FROM ACHIEVING THEIR POTENTIAL DUE to A LACK of INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL STRUCTURE, LOW SELF-CONFIDENCE or WEAKNESS THAT OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE NOT PREPARED to ADDRESS. TCS OFFERS TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC CLASSES and EXPERIENTIAL COURSES THAT INCLUDE CARPENTRY, DRAMA, MUSIC, HORTICULTURE and CULINARY ARTS. THE SCHOOLS UNIQUE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LIFE SKILLS, CAREER GOALS and EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $71.30 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

75.60%of revenue went to mission work71.3% of expenses · Program services

2.38%of revenue went to fundraising2.2% of expenses

$106.04spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

28.06%of revenue went to management and office costs26.5% of expenses

$2.04in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

2.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $577,885 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $311,896 for STEVE PALMER (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$9,571,194

Mission workProgram services$7,235,98775.60% of revenue71.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,685,24728.06% of revenue26.5% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$227,8452.38% of revenue2.2% of expenses

Total expenses$10,149,079106.04% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 71.3% mission · 26.5% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 106.04% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 68.6% mission · 28.4% management · 3.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 105.18% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 70.3% mission · 27.5% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.48% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 67.3% mission · 30.3% management · 2.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.56% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 70.2% mission · 27.6% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 79.25% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 75.2% mission · 21.8% management · 3.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.66% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 77.5% mission · 19.5% management · 2.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 89.57% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 76.3% mission · 19.7% management · 4.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.23% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$9,571,194

Expenses$10,149,079

Annual shortfall $577,885 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$7,235,987 · 71.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,685,247 · 26.5% of expenses

Fundraising$227,845 · 2.2% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$9,571,194

Expenses$10,149,079

Assets$20,685,483

Income$9,817,485

Contributions$273,995

Mission work (program services)$7,235,987

Fundraising$227,845

Management and general$2,685,247

Stocks and bonds$4,382,745

Accounting fees$52,035

Investing fees$6,109

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

STEVE PALMEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $311,896Base $290,327 · Other $21,569

KELLEY LEROYCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 40 hrs/week $163,550Base $155,365 · Other $8,185

LAURA FINNELLHIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL · 40 hrs/week $110,911Base $106,383 · Other $4,528

BRENDA HALLDIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT · 40 hrs/week $105,193Base $100,766 · Other $4,427

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (25)

STEVE PALMEREXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KELLEY LEROYCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

LAURA FINNELLHIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

BRENDA HALLDIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT

WALLY MROZIKPRESIDENT EMERITUS

AMY GATES-STROUDBOARD MEMBER

TILLIE ONEALBOARD MEMBER

SHICA BAKERBOARD MEMBER

SANDY BUHLERBOARD MEMBER

RONALD MERLINBOARD MEMBER

ROBERT HAGANEXECUTIVE ADVISOR

RICH ALTERMANBOARD MEMBER

LESLIE BASSETTBOARD MEMBER

KURT HILBERTVICE PRESIDENT

KIRK BROWNBOARD MEMBER

KADIJAH VICKERSBOARD MEMBER

JOHN BARBERBOARD MEMBER

JEFF KINCAIDBOARD MEMBER

JEAN MENSEBOARD MEMBER

HOLLY RANNEYBOARD MEMBER

GORDON OWENSPRESIDENT

DOUG CURLINGBOARD MEMBER

BOWE LANGBOARD MEMBER

BLAKE HARBINTREASURER

BECKY THELENSECRETARY

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1998
Location: 700 GRIMES BRIDGE ROAD, ROSWELL, GA 30075
County: Fulton
In care of: KELLEY LEROY
Primary officer: KELLEY LEROY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(770) 641-8688

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: June 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CRI ADVISORS LLC
NTEE classification: Education (B90Z)