PIONEER INSTITUTE INC

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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

1988

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

JIM STERGIOS

Phone

6177232277

Tax Period

2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30

PIONEER INSTITUTE INC, founded in 1988, is a community nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $7.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 23% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $1.5M, a strong 20% operating margin.

Mission

PIONEER INSTITUTE EMPOWERS AMERICANS WITH CHOICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE FREELY AND THRIVE. THROUGH EXPERT RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, LEGAL ACTION, AND COALITION-BUILDING, WE ADVANCE HUMAN POTENTIAL IN FOUR CRITICAL AREAS: K-12 EDUCATION, HEALTH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AMERICAN CIVIC VALUES.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $1,097,730 Revenue: $1,080,000

PIONEER EDUCATION & AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP: PIONEER BUILDS ON ITS LEGACY AS A LEADER IN THE CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL MOVEMENT AND A CHAMPION OF GREATER ACADEMIC RIGOR BY ADVANCING EDUCATION REFORM THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN RESEARCH, PODCASTS, OPINION PIECES, AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY. PIONEER PROMOTES HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND A BROAD RANGE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICE OPTIONS, INCLUDING CHARTER SCHOOLS, REGIONAL VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, INTER-DISTRICT SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAMS, TAX CREDIT STRATEGIES THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL EDUCATION FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, AND EXPANDED VIRTUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH US DATALABS, PIONEER SEEKS TO INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BY PROVIDING FREE ONLINE RESOURCES FEATURING KEY DATA ON EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT, ECONOMICS, HEALTHCARE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OTHER POLICY AREAS ACROSS ALL 50 STATES.

Program 2

Expenses: $620,958 Revenue: $544,547

PIONEERHEALTH: THROUGH ITS LIFE SCIENCES INITIATIVE, PIONEER EXAMINES DRUG PRICING MODELS, THE IMPACT OF ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACHES TO HEALTHCARE VALUE ASSESSMENTS, AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE A...

PIONEERHEALTH: THROUGH ITS LIFE SCIENCES INITIATIVE, PIONEER EXAMINES DRUG PRICING MODELS, THE IMPACT OF ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL APPROACHES TO HEALTHCARE VALUE ASSESSMENTS, AND STRATEGIES TO ENSURE A ROBUST PIPELINE OF AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE THERAPIES. PIONEER ALSO ADVOCATES FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN 340B PROGRAM HOSPITAL REVENUES TO HELP ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE USED TO SUPPORT THE LOWER-INCOME POPULATIONS THE PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO SERVE. IN ADDITION, PIONEER SEEKS TO REFOCUS THE HEALTHCARE COST DEBATE AWAY FROM GOVERNMENT-IMPOSED SOLUTIONS AND TOWARD MARKET-BASED APPROACHES THAT PROMOTE INNOVATION, ACCESS, AND AFFORDABILITY.

Program 3

Expenses: $1,512,020 Revenue: $824,000

PIONEER OPPORTUNITY: PIONEERS WORKS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS, ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND FOSTER JOB GROWTH BY IMPROVING THE BUSINESS CLIMATE, ENHANCING TAX COMPETITIVENESS, AND...

PIONEER OPPORTUNITY: PIONEERS WORKS TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS, ADVANCE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND FOSTER JOB GROWTH BY IMPROVING THE BUSINESS CLIMATE, ENHANCING TAX COMPETITIVENESS, AND REDUCING BURDENSOME REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT BUSINESS EXPANSION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PIONEER ALSO ADVANCES RESEARCH AIMED AT EXPANDING HOUSING OPTIONS, STREAMLINING PERMITTING PROCESS. PIONEER ALSO RESEARCHES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS TO THE ECONOMY.

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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 $3,265,745

Program Service Revenue $3,485,741

Investment Income $188,035

Other Revenue $375,127

TOTAL REVENUE $7,314,648

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $885,500

Salaries & Benefits $2,938,961

Fundraising Expenses $1,078,917

Program Expenses $4,362,271

Other Expenses $2,003,432

TOTAL EXPENSES $5,827,893

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$7,314,648	$5,946,434	+0.2%
Expenses	$5,827,893	$4,694,380	+0.2%
Net Income	$1,486,755	$1,252,054	+0.2%

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

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

$855,427

Total Directors

Key Employees

$336,667

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ADAM PORTNOY	DIRECTOR - CHAIRPERSON	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SARA JOHNSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ANDREW DAVIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FRED CLIFFORD	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARK RICKABAUGH	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GARY CAMPBELL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRIAN BRODERICK	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
HOLT MASSEY	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARY MYERS KAUPPILA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BRACKETT DENNISTON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROGER SERVISON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
EDWARD GLAESER	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DREW DAVIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHAEL BROWN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHRIS DI BONAVENTURA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
KYLA DE ASLA	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MARK COHEN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAKE JACOBSON	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBER MASHAL	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CHARLES HEWITT III	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JAMES STERGIOS	EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	40.00	Officer	$379,183	$35,863	$415,046
MARY Z CONAUGHTON	CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER/CLERK	40.00	Officer	$242,981	$41,400	$284,381
FRANK BAILEY	PRESIDENT OF PIONEERLEGAL	40.00	Officer	$150,000	$6,000	$156,000
JIM JOSLIN	TREASURER	1.00	Officer	$0	$0	$0
ANDREW HORGAN	CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER	40.00	Key Emp	$293,249	$43,418	$336,667
WILLIAM SMITH	DIRECTOR LIFE SCIENCES	40.00	Highest	$197,246	$8,538	$205,784
JAMIE GASS	DIRECTOR OF PIONEEREDUCATI	40.00	Highest	$172,070	$38,541	$210,611
CATHERINE CASTELLANO	DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING	40.00	Highest	$158,839	$6,354	$165,193
JOHN LALIBERTE	STAFF ATTORNEY - PIONEER LEGAL	40.00	Highest	$105,000	$4,200	$109,200

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	$7,314,648	$5,827,893	$11,078,748	$1,486,755
2024	$5,946,434	$4,694,380	$9,427,349	$1,252,054
2024	$5,946,434	$4,694,380	$9,427,349	$1,252,054
2023	$4,549,833	$4,064,353	$7,478,638	$485,480
2023	$4,549,833	$4,064,353	$7,478,638	$485,480
2023	$4,549,833	$4,064,353	$7,478,638	$485,480
2022	$4,174,169	$3,227,857	$6,530,222	$946,312
2021	$3,775,332	$2,675,335	$5,985,831	$1,099,997
2020	$3,377,287	$2,384,435	$4,714,535	$992,852