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Education : Scholarship and Financial Support

The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund

Giving families a choice, giving children a chance

four stars

95.43

284 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202
tel: (716) 854-0869   Web Site
EIN: 16-1477288

Board Leadership
Paul D. Bauer
President

CEO
Amy E. Popadick
Executive Director

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 95.43 four stars
  Financial 94.93 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 1995, the BISON Children's Scholarship Fund is a privately funded organization whose mission is to broaden the educational opportunities for Western New York children by helping low-income families afford the cost of private K-12 schools.

Since 1995, BISON has awarded over 31,300 K-8 scholarships with a private investment of $28.8 million. BISON is a program that works right now, instead of needing to wait for reform and policy changes. BISON is a prime way for thousands of children to have immediate access to a safe, quality, and values-based education.

This school year, there are over 1,900 BISON Scholars in 85 different schools across Western New York.

Founded in 1995, the BISON Children's Scholarship Fund is a privately funded organization whose mission is to broaden the educational opportunities for Western New York children by helping low-income families afford the cost of private K-12 schools.

Since 1995, BISON has awarded over 31,300 K-8 scholarships with a private investment of $28.8 million. BISON is a program that works right now, instead of needing to wait for reform and policy changes. BISON is a prime way for thousands of children to have immediate access to a safe, quality, and values-based education.

This school year, there are over 1,900 BISON Scholars in 85 different schools across Western New York.

Impact Information

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Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

94.93

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 07/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 93.0%
  Administrative Expenses 1.9%
  Fundraising Expenses 5.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.03
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.77
  Program Expenses Growth 4.9%
  Liabilities to Assets < 0.1%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund (NY) 95.43 four stars
ACE Scholarships (CO) 96.66 four stars
Inner-City Scholarship Fund (NY) 88.90 three stars
The College Crusade of Rhode Island (RI) 89.11 three stars
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (CO) 88.57 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $3,967,502
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $335,428
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $4,302,930
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $4,302,930
   Other Revenue $19,300
TOTAL REVENUE $4,322,230
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $2,351,861
   Administrative Expenses $46,615
   Fundraising Expenses $143,653
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,542,129
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $1,780,101
   
Net Assets $4,355,332

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Scholarship Fund $2,351,861 100.0%

Ratings History
The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund has received 7 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-06 07/01/2019 95.43 four stars
2018-06 06/01/2019 91.43 four stars
2017-06 09/01/2018 96.77 four stars
2017-06 07/01/2018 92.07 four stars
2016-06 08/01/2017 95.03 four stars
2015-06 07/01/2016 94.28 four stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 97.87 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 09/01/2015 95.09 four stars
2013-06 06/01/2014 96.87 four stars
2012-06 07/01/2013 96.07 four stars
2012-06 06/01/2013 89.05 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 16-1477288
Name in IRS Master File THE BISON CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND INC
NTEE Code T30
NTEE Classification Public Foundations
NTEE Type Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (994) Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code
(40) Scholarships (other)
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date August, 1995
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$89,122 3.50% Amy E. Popadick Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund (NY) 95.43 four stars
Special Operations Warrior Foundation (FL) 94.47 four stars
Student Sponsor Partners (NY) 91.46 four stars
Arizona Private Education Scholarship Fund (AZ) 88.81 three stars
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, North America (NY) 87.65 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund
284 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
tel: (716) 854-0869
EIN: 16-1477288

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Paul D. Bauer
President

CEO

Amy E. Popadick
Executive Director

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