Disable all preview features

Education : Scholarship and Financial Support

The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund

Giving families a choice, giving children a chance

four stars

95.03

P.O. Box 1134 Buffalo, NY 14205
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 95.03 four stars
  Financial 99.38 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 93.00 four stars
This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund is a privately funded tuition assistance program for low-income children living in Western New York. Families awarded a BISON scholarship are able to send their child to a private elementary school of their choice. BISON's goal is to equalize educational opportunities for elementary students by offering low-income families educational options normally denied to them because of cost. Founded in 1995, the BISON Children's Scholarship Fund has grown from helping 200 children to more than 1,800 children today. BISON believes that every child should have the chance to succeed.

The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund is a privately funded tuition assistance program for low-income children living in Western New York. Families awarded a BISON scholarship are able to send their child to a private elementary school of their choice. BISON's goal is to equalize educational opportunities for elementary students by offering low-income families educational options normally denied to them because of cost. Founded in 1995, the BISON Children's Scholarship Fund has grown from helping 200 children to more than 1,800 children today. BISON believes that every child should have the chance to succeed.

Results Information

Looking for Results Data?

Charity Navigator is collaborating with GuideStar, Classy, and GlobalGiving, to display impact-related information for rated nonprofits. However, not all rated nonprofits have provided results information yet. Each of these partners has supplied Charity Navigator with the results information they receive directly from nonprofits. Submissions must be made on our partner's websites and we plan to update the display of this information regularly.

If you are interested in seeing this charity provide its results information, please click below. Note, this is simply an indication of your interest.

data iconLearn More

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

Financial

four stars

99.38

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

93.00

This rating was published 08/01/2017 and includes data from FY2016, 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)		 93.2%
  Administrative Expenses 1.7%
  Fundraising Expenses 4.9%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.04
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.06
  Program Expenses Growth 9.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 0.2%
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) 95.03 four stars
Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust (CO) 87.70 three stars
Take Stock in Children (FL) 91.28 four stars
American Indian College Fund (CO) 90.54 four stars
Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (IL) 87.82 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $2,214,122
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $239,700
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $2,453,822
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $2,453,822
   Other Revenue $9,009
TOTAL REVENUE $2,462,831
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $2,270,850
   Administrative Expenses $42,163
   Fundraising Expenses $107,620
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $2,420,633
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $42,198
   
Net Assets $2,317,957

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 $2,270,850 100.0%

Ratings History
The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund has received 5 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
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

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

Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$78,913 3.26% Amy E. Popadick Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund (NY) 95.03 four stars
North Carolina Agricultural Foundation (NC) 94.77 four stars
American Quarter Horse Foundation (TX) 90.03 four stars
I Have A Dream Foundation - Los Angeles (CA) 94.06 four stars
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (VA) 94.34 four 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
P.O. Box 1134
Buffalo, NY 14205
tel: (716) 854-0869
EIN: 16-1477288

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Paul D. Bauer
President

CEO

Amy E. Popadick
Executive Director

please wait...

    • I want to donate to The BISON Children's Scholarship Fund

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on