2026-04-24T09:03:19+00:00 2025-06-30 440160260 Forvis Mazars LLP 135 West 50th Street New York NY 10020 990 2024-07-01 461314848 UASPIRE INC UASP 8573440770 6 LIBERTY SQUARE PMB 98549 BOSTON MA 02109 CASANDRA SCALES CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 8573440770 2026-04-24 true true Lauren Denton P01571860 2128127000 2026-04-24 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z JACLYN PINERO 6 LIBERTY SQUARE PMB 98549 BOSTON MA 02109 12762864 false X WWW.UASPIRE.ORG X 2012 MA UASPIRE WORKS TO REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE. 19 19 88 19 0 9515574 4427950 1351446 1272317 224790 461493 6955 11091810 6168715 76178 87829 0 7142696 8401917 0 1068629 2214499 1809889 9433373 10299635 1658437 -4130920 17046751 16281677 806122 3806569 16240629 12475108 X UASPIRE'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY OF UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS BY CREATING FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS TO DIVERSE POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS. false false 3905665 829008 UASPIRE GUIDES STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX FINANCIAL AID SYSTEMS IN PURSUIT OF EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS THROUGH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ADVISING. UASPIRE PROVIDES POSTSECONDARY FINANCIAL AID ADVISING TO 10,000 STUDENTS IN LOCATIONS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS (BOSTON, CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE, MALDEN, AND FALL RIVER) AND THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA (SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, AND HAYWARD) AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK. UASPIRE'S HIGH SCHOOL ADVISING PROGRAM, AFFORD, DELIVERS ROBUST, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS AND OVER TEXT MESSAGING TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID, MAKE FINANCIALLY INFORMED COLLEGE DECISIONS, AND SUCCESSFULLY ENROLL. UASPIRE'S POSTSECONDARY ADVISING PROGRAM, SUCCEED, SUPPORTS STUDENTS TO MAINTAIN/SECURE FINANCIAL AID AND MANAGE COLLEGE COSTS TO PERSIST AND ULTIMATELY COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES. UASPIRE ADVISORS SUPPLEMENT HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO DEPEND ON UASPIRE TO HELP WITH THE FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO AFFRODABILITY, MATRICULATION AND PERSISTENCE TO A CERTIFICATE OR DEGREE. 1813344 310709 UASPIRE TRAINS SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND PROGRAM STAFF TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS THEY WORK WITH THROUGH THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS. TAILORED TO STAFF'S EXPERIENCE AND STATE CONTEXT, OUR ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COURSES OFFER BEST-IN-CLASS INSTRUCTION, ACTION PLANNING, AND TOOLS TO USE WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. WE ALSO OFFER PRACTITIONERS UNLIMITED ONLINE ACCESS TO UASPIRE'S RESOURCES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FINANCIAL AID EXPERTISE THROUGH OUR PARTNER PORTAL. THROUGH THE PORTAL, MEMBERS CAN REQUEST SUPPORT OR ASK A QUESTION TO GET THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THEIR STUDENTS, FIND HOW-TO VIDEOS AND TOOLS TO SHARE WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND STAY CURRENT WITH COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY NEWS. 906673 BY LEVERAGING OUR OWN AND OUR STUDENTS' FINANCIAL AID EXPERTISE, UASPIRE ADVOCATES FOR INSTITUTIONAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL POLICY CHANGE TO TRANSFORM FINANCIAL AID AND HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS. WE ALSO RUN A PAID POLICY FELLOWSHIP, WHERE COLLEGE STUDENTS BUILD ADVOCACY SKILLS AND INFLUENCE POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE. 438089 87829 132600 OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CONSIST OF OUR: 1) CONSULTING PRACTICE WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND OFFER UNIQUELY DESIGNED SOLUTIONS IN THE AREAS OF CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND SYSTEMS CHANGE, BY LEVERAGING OUR FINANCIAL AID EXPERTISE, STUDENT-ADVISING EXPERIENCE, AND STUDENT-CENTERED RESEARCH; AND 2) SCHOLARSHIP AND EMERGENCY AID SUPPORT WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS AS WELL AS PROGRAM QUALITY AND EVALUATION. 438089 87829 132600 7063771 true true false true false false false false false true false false false false true false true false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 37 0 true 88 true false false false false false false false false false false false false X 19 19 false false false false false false false true true false false false true true true true true true true true false false CA CO CT DC FL GA AL HI IL KS ME AK MD MA MI MS NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH PA RI SC TN WA WV WI X JACLYN PINERO 8573440770 6 LIBERTY SQUARE PMB 98549 BOSTON MA 02109 CYNTHIA RIVERA WEISSBLUM SECRETARY 1.0 X X 0 0 0 MICHAEL BOYLE TREASURER 1.0 X X 0 0 0 AMIT PATEL DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 BILL MCCLEMENTS VICE CHAIR 1.0 X 0 0 0 BOB O'SULLIVAN DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 CHARLES SHIRLEY DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 HO NAM DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 JENN STREDLER DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 JOHN HUDSON DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 JONATHAN COX DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 KERRY ANN JAMES BOARD CHAIR 1.0 X 0 0 0 MAY BUMAR DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 PETE NOVEMBER DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 SIMONE HILL OKAFOR DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 TERRY VAUGHAN III DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 VALDUVINO GONCALVES DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 WILLIAM BILL MANDELL DIRECTOR 1.0 X 0 0 0 JACLYN PINERO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40.0 X 295760 0 46467 AYEESHA LANE CHIEF PEOPLE AND OPERATIONS OFFICER 40.0 X 197101 0 33740 HOLLY MORROW CHIEF KNOWLEDGE OFFICER 40.0 X 202492 0 39296 JANEIRA FORTE CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER 40.0 X 218853 0 11971 VALERIA WELLS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER 40.0 X 225665 0 12607 ANIKA VAN EATON VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY 40.0 X 130811 0 17250 BRENDAN WILLIAMS VICE PRESIDENT OF KNOWLEDGE 40.0 X 123838 0 62404 Erica Rose VP of Strategic Partnerships 40.0 X 123956 0 35707 Hallan Hanson Chief Development Officer 40.0 X 131773 0 3890 KIMBERLY NIDAH Senior VP of Institutional Giving 40.0 X 124322 0 16736 1774571 0 280068 14 false true false Arabella Advisors 50 E Washington Street Ste 400 Chicago IL 60602 Accounting Services 241218 Positively Partners 6218 Georgia Ave NW 5072 Washington DC 20011 HR/Payroll/Recruitment 184291 Bartley & Dick 330 West38th Street Ste 1401 New York NY 10018 Marketing/Promotion 110367 3 4427950 16073 4427950 COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY ADVISING 611710 829008 829008 TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 611710 310709 310709 SCHOLARSHIP ADMIN FEES 611710 132600 132600 0 0 0 0 1272317 272960 272960 0 0 6782682 6594149 188533 0 188533 188533 Other Income 900099 6955 6955 0 0 0 0 6955 6168715 1272317 0 468448 87829 87829 342193 252667 49281 40245 6584321 4861455 948237 774629 250880 185243 36130 29507 698102 515427 100536 82139 526421 388678 75812 61931 52834 52834 12235 12235 64881 64881 698987 100059 596928 2000 48091 40441 7650 81508 18103 61482 1923 265901 179598 60014 26289 11534 11534 267798 180408 71586 15804 17573 11767 4755 1051 26736 16522 7581 2633 STAFF DEVELOPMENT 216147 156610 29059 30478 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT 68964 68964 -23300 0 -23300 0 10299635 7063771 2167235 1068629 3085693 1955705 69432 1374755 4487661 2071600 627051 623132 0 0 0 0 289547 99470 0 0 0 0 8487367 10157015 0 0 0 0 17046751 16281677 694924 708992 0 0 111198 3097577 806122 3806569 X 8039601 8231057 8201028 4244051 16240629 12475108 17046751 16281677 -4130920 365399 0 X false true true false X 6954691 9327389 11024591 9515574 4427950 41250195 0 0 6954691 9327389 11024591 9515574 4427950 41250195 11128438 30121757 56503 107745 190831 195817 272969 823865 0 0 0 87219 0 6995 94214 42168274 6024755 0.71432 0.7458 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10 Other Income DESCRIPTION - , COLUMN A - , COLUMN B - , COLUMN C - 87219.0, COLUMN D - , COLUMN E - 6995.0, COLUMN F - 94214.0; RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 2499 52741 55240 10244395 10299635 664982 0 166245 0 0 534160 605839 621669 664982 2426649 3639974 6692 23631 51417 55240 136980 133540 151460 155417 166245 606663 909994 578 344 2499 3421 557909 38101 38101 557909 557909 40215 40215 557909 557909 26096 26096 557909 557909 30226 -30226 557909 557909 24498 24498 557909 0.0 1.0 0.0 false false Federal Income Taxes DONOR-DESIGNATED FUNDS 3097577 3097577 6502991 365399 33758 0 399157 6103834 64881 0 64881 6168715 10268512 33758 0 33758 10234754 64881 0 64881 10299635 Schedule D, Part V, Line 4 Intended uses of endowment funds THE PERMANENT ENDOWMENT CONSISTS OF INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTEND TO PRESERVE THE FAIR VALUE OF THE ORIGINAL GIFT AS EXPLICITLY STIPULATED BY THE DONORS. true FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION 37 73912 DIRECT STUDENT AID FUNDING 49 13917 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 Procedures for monitoring use of grant funds THE ORGANIZATION WORKS WITH FINANCIAL AID OFFICES AT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR STUDENTS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE FUNDS ARE CREDITED DIRECTLY TO ENROLLED STUDENTS' OUTSTANDING TUITION BILLS. X X X false false false false false false false false false JACLYN PINERO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 265649 0 30000 0 111 0 15164 0 31303 0 342227 0 0 0 AYEESHA LANE CHIEF PEOPLE AND OPERATIONS OFFICER 196931 0 0 0 170 0 10110 0 23630 0 230841 0 0 0 HOLLY MORROW CHIEF KNOWLEDGE OFFICER 198434 0 3984 0 74 0 10438 0 28858 0 241788 0 0 0 JANEIRA FORTE CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER 209807 0 8935 0 111 0 10937 0 1034 0 230824 0 0 0 VALERIA WELLS CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER 224786 0 0 0 879 0 0 0 12607 0 238272 0 0 0 BRENDAN WILLIAMS VICE PRESIDENT OF KNOWLEDGE 123771 0 0 0 67 0 6667 0 55737 0 186242 0 0 0 Erica Rose VP of Strategic Partnerships 123882 0 0 0 74 0 6527 0 29180 0 159663 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 4a-4c Description of program services (Expenses $ 438,089 including grants of $ 87,829)(Revenue $ 132,600) OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES CONSIST OF OUR: 1) CONSULTING PRACTICE WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND OFFER UNIQUELY DESIGNED SOLUTIONS IN THE AREAS OF CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND SYSTEMS CHANGE, BY LEVERAGING OUR FINANCIAL AID EXPERTISE, STUDENT-ADVISING EXPERIENCE, AND STUDENT-CENTERED RESEARCH; AND 2) SCHOLARSHIP AND EMERGENCY AID SUPPORT WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS AS WELL AS PROGRAM QUALITY AND EVALUATION. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15 THE ORGANIZATION ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION CONSULTING FIRM TO PERFORM A STUDY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION BASED ON COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SIMILAR SIZED COMPANIES, INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND OTHER CHIEF LEVEL EXECUTIVE LEADERS. SPECIFICALLY, FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THEIR SALARY WAS WITHIN THE RANGE SUGGESTED BY THE CONSULTING FIRM AND WAS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH REPORTED ITS CONCLUSION AND PROCESS TO THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A POLICY IS IN PLACE TO ENGAGE IN SUBSEQUENT ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S COMPENSATION LED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS. FOR OTHER CHIEF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR APPROVAL, BASED ON INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION DATA, TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. CHIEF EXECUTIVES DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. Form 990, Part VI, Line 18 UPON REQUEST, THE ORGANIZATION WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, AND ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b Review of form 990 by governing body THE FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE CEO, CFO, AND THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c Conflict of interest policy The organization has a written Conflict of Interest policy that is shared annually. All new Board members complete the conflict of interest form. Board members are requested on an annual basis to provide an updated Conflict of Interest form. The existence of any issues that could give rise to conflicts is reviewed periodically by the Governance Committee and the Chief Executive Officer to ascertain whether any Director, Board member or key employee might conceivably have an interest which could give rise to a conflict. All members of the Organization are aware of the Conflict of interest policy and are required to Discuss with the Chief Executive Officer or directly with the Board, should they feel there are any conflicts as defined by the policy. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 Required documents available to the public THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION ARE ATTACHED TO THE FORM PC FILED WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF PUBLIC CHARITIES AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICIES ARE NOT POSTED TO SUCH WEBSITE, BUT ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. Form 990, Part VII, Section B, Line 1 Independent contractor services totaled $535,876 for the year, of which $241,218 relates to non-recurring accounting services associated with the final year of outsourced accounting and the transition to an internal CFO and finance function. Form 990, Part VIII, Line 12 FY2025 marked the first revenue deficit in several years for uAspire, primarily due to the timing and conclusion of multi-year grants, non-renewals, and delays in funding decisions. Leadership implemented strategic measures to stabilize operations while safeguarding the organization's mission, including targeted investments in development capacity, foundation partnerships, and a reduction in force to align expenses with confirmed and probable revenue. Programmatic roles were prioritized to ensure continuity of critical student and family support services. uAspire maintains a conservative liquidity strategy to manage near-term fluctuations while continuing to advance long-term strategic priorities and impact. Form 990, Part X, Line 26 The organization experienced an increase in liabilities in 2025 due to the expansion of its scholarship administration program. uAspire administers scholarship awards funded by third-party donors. The organization does not have sole discretion over the selection criteria or award determinations and acts as an intermediary in transferring scholarship funds. Accordingly, these funds are treated as agency transactions and recorded as a liability until the funds are disbursed to students.