MAKING WAVES ACADEMY

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

2007

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

ALTON B NELSON JR

Phone

5102621511

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

MAKING WAVES ACADEMY, founded in 2007, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $28.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue decreased 8% compared to the prior year.

Mission

RIGOROUSLY AND HOLISTICALLY PREPARING STUDENTS TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE TO AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE TO ULTIMATELY BECOME VALUABLE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE WORKFORCE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $26,286,864

MAKING WAVES ACADEMY ENSURES THAT OUR YOUTH ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE TO AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. MAKING WAVES ACADEMY SERVED OVER 1,075 CHILDREN IN THE FY 24/25.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $27,641,441

Program Service Revenue $0

Investment Income $390,498

Other Revenue $0

TOTAL REVENUE $28,031,939

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $16,794,062

Fundraising Expenses $0

Program Expenses $26,286,864

Other Expenses $11,302,341

TOTAL EXPENSES $28,096,403

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$28,031,939	$30,342,025	-0.1%
Expenses	$28,096,403	$28,706,466	0.0%
Net Income	$-64,464	$1,635,559	-1.0%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

221

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✓ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$614,027

Total Directors

Key Employees

$489,460

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ALTON B NELSON JR	CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER	40.00	Officer	$339,071	$89,356	$428,427
ELIZABETH MARTINEZ	CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER	40.00	Key Emp	$212,880	$34,307	$247,187
TAMEKA JACKSON	PRINCIPAL	40.00	Highest	$201,586	$41,414	$243,000
DAMON EDWARDS	CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER	40.00	Key Emp	$206,713	$35,560	$242,273
HUNG MAI	DIRECTOR OF FINANCE THROUGH 6/25	40.00	Officer	$159,234	$26,366	$185,600
KATHARINE MASON	DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS OPERATIONS	40.00	Highest	$152,509	$28,695	$181,204
ATHENA DRAPER	IT DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$155,306	$14,537	$169,843
ARIKA SPENCER-BROWN	DIR. OF COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING	40.00	Highest	$118,805	$44,283	$163,088
ALONSO RIVERA	HEALTH & WELLNESS TEACHER	40.00	Highest	$113,194	$41,611	$154,805
ALICA KLEIN	BOARD CHAIR	15.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ENRIQUE ROMERO	BOARD SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JANIS GLOVER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR ESTHER HUGO	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FELICIA SELVA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
AMY OBINYAN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARGARET WATSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$28,031,939	$28,096,403	$16,356,230	$-64,464
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$29,259,158	$28,129,220	$15,269,756	$1,129,938
2022	$27,331,193	$26,024,225	$9,802,840	$1,306,968
2021	$26,162,120	$22,740,700	$7,891,807	$3,421,420
2020	$23,033,799	$24,399,217	$6,099,100	$-1,365,418
2019	$23,532,549	$22,997,070	$4,863,829	$535,479
2018	$19,366,990	$19,282,862	$4,129,011	$84,128