Education Reform Now

Education Reform Now, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization based in New York.  Their political arm is a related 501(c)4, Education Reform Now Advocacy Committee, Inc.

ERN recorded $92,500 in revenue during their first year (2005)[PDF].  Their President at the time, Amy Wilkins (now at Ed Trust), made $16,329 and an additional $2,017 in benefits.  John Petry and R Boykins Curry IV are listed as unpaid directors.  Their primary exempt purpose is to “develop policy alternatives in education”.  They reimbursed Education Reform Now Advocacy Committee, Inc $83,099 for “labor costs and operating expenses based on timesheets and other contemporaneous accountable plan arrangements.”  ERN ended the year with $59,584 in the bank.

The nonprofit brought in $80,000 in 2006 [PDF].  Amy Wilkins saw her salary jump to $65,731; Curry and Petry were still listed as directors.  They spent a total of $118,829 in 2006, most of it on salaries ($83,594) and “other expenses”($24,525).  Professional fees and occupancy accounts for the rest of their operating budget.

ERN recorded $173,500 in revenues during 2007 [PDF].  Joe Williams replaced Amy Wilkins as President, and Sidney Hawkins replaced R Boykins Curry IV as a director (Petry remained).

Revenues rose to $1,280,081 in 2008 [PDF].  A full $1,070,023 went to program services.  According to their 990:

The organization sponsored public awareness events – “Harlem Charter School Night”, “Brooklyn Charter School Night”, and “ED Challenge for Change” at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in 2008.  We also conducted outreach to the press on polling results.

ERN also spent $612,000 in “awards and grants” (no money trail?) and over a quarter million in “consulting services”.  Joe Williams’ salary jumped to $114,545 (with $32,455 from a related organization).