THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL

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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

1967

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

KEMBERLY MERRITT

Phone

2143699201

Tax Period

2024-06-01 to 2025-05-31

THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL, founded in 1967, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $16.6M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Net assets of $63.2M represent 46 months of operating reserves.

Mission

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION: DEDICATED TO IGNITING THE POTENTIAL OF EACH CHILD IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD, LAMPLIGHTER ENGAGES CHILDREN IN THE JOY OF LEARNING THROUGH INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY IN A CREATIVE, INCLUSIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT. CORE COMMITMENTS: 1. LAMPLIGHTER PROMOTES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM AND TEACHING THAT CULTIVATES THE POTENTIAL IN EACH CHILD. 2. LAMPLIGHTER ACTIVELY ENGAGES CHILDREN IN THE JOY OF LEARNING, TEACHING THEM TO BE TOMORROW'S PROBLEM SOLVERS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING. 3. LAMPLIGHTER DEVELOPS CHARACTER, CONFIDENCE, AND COLLABORATIVE SKILLS THROUGH SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM. 4. LAMPLIGHTER EMBRACES DIVERSITY IN ALL ITS FACETS, STRIVING TO BE A GENUINELY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, RESPECTFUL OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND SEEKING BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD. 5. LAMPLIGHTER ENCOURAGES CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY THROUGH HANDS ON LEARNING WHILE PRESERVING THE WONDER OF CHILDHOOD.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $13,840,203 Revenue: $14,819,806

THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL CONCENTRATES ON EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING FOR STUDENTS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE, ENROLLING 456 STUDENTS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THE SCHOOL EMBRACES THE WAY YOUNG CHILDREN ACTUALLY LEARN, HELPS PREPARE THE CHILDREN FOR THE WORLD THEY WILL INHERIT, INTEGRATES SERIOUS EDUCATION INTO ACTIVITIES CHILDREN FIND CAPTIVATING, AND INSPIRES EACH CHILD TOWARD A LIFETIME OF LEARNING AND A LOVE OF LEARNING. THROUGH THE FOUNDERS' VISION FOR PRIMARY EDUCATION BASED ON REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AND TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF YOUNG LEARNERS AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MAJOR NONPROFITS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ALLOWING STUDENTS TO VISIT AND INTERACT WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, PEROT MUSEUM, AND THE DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN, THE LAMPLIGHTER SCHOOL HAS BEEN SHOWCASED AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S INNOVATORS AND ACHIEVERS.

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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 $1,227,913

Program Service Revenue $14,819,806

Investment Income $451,148

Other Revenue $125,821

TOTAL REVENUE $16,624,688

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $539,288

Salaries & Benefits $10,000,760

Fundraising Expenses $836,465

Program Expenses $13,840,203

Other Expenses $6,044,807

TOTAL EXPENSES $16,584,855

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$16,624,688	$16,279,575	+0.0%
Expenses	$16,584,855	$15,333,381	+0.1%
Net Income	$39,833	$946,194	-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

109

Volunteers

360

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

$668,881

Total Directors

Key Employees

$236,168

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
MARGARET JOHANSEN HIRSCH	BOARD CHAIR	3.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS MORTON	BOARD VICE CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MORGAN KENNEDY	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ELIZABETH CULLUM HELFRICH	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
DR LILY ALBRITTON	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ROY ANEED	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
FLAUREN FAGADAU BENDER	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID BERAN	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SARAH SCHOELLKOPF BLOOM	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JORDAN BRAINERD	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
SYLVIA CESPEDES	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
GRACE COOK	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DAVID GUEDRY	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MELANIE JABBOUR	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR STEPHANIE KNIGHT	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WHITNEY LEWIS	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ERIC V LOMBARDI	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR JAYA T MATHEW	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR MATTHEW D MILLER	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DR CHAD PARK	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BYRON SANDERS	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MICHELLE NEUHOFF THOMAS	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CARMEN YUNG	TRUSTEE	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOAN HILL	HEAD OF SCHOOL	60.00	Officer	$436,049	$52,484	$488,533
CHARLES ANGEL	CFO - RETIRED 02/23/25	45.00	Officer	$171,210	$9,138	$180,348
KEMBERLY MERRITT	CFO - HIRED 2025	45.00	Officer	$0	$0	$0
MARYNELL MURPHY	COO	50.00	Key Emp	$207,875	$28,293	$236,168
JUDITH MULLENS	ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL - EC	50.00	Highest	$153,054	$18,493	$171,547
STEPHEN E SCOTT	ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL - LS	50.00	Highest	$122,050	$25,280	$147,330
ELIZABETH SELZER	CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER	45.00	Highest	$105,904	$41,060	$146,964
KATHERINE BEDDOW	4TH GRADE MATH TEACHER	40.00	Highest	$108,641	$18,656	$127,297
LISA FAYE	CONTROLLER	40.00	Highest	$103,692	$16,434	$120,126

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	$16,624,688	$16,584,855	$67,864,456	$39,833
2024	$16,279,575	$15,333,381	$67,677,650	$946,194
2023	$16,770,638	$14,233,951	$65,830,063	$2,536,687
2022	$20,667,782	$13,418,508	$61,812,607	$7,249,274
2021	$14,027,769	$12,572,009	$52,794,054	$1,455,760
2020	$13,930,048	$12,327,682	$47,328,508	$1,602,366
2019	$12,963,461	$11,884,580	$45,725,082	$1,078,881
2018	$13,725,085	$12,342,783	$45,246,434	$1,382,302