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Non-profit

Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)

Website:

sais.org
Location:

NORCROSS, GA
Tax ID:

62-1062837
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,500,972
Expenses: $2,236,117
Assets: $3,092,052
Type:

Education accreditation
Founded:

1953
President:

Debra Wilson

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The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) is a regional organization of private schools. 1 SAIS is a member organization of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the largest network of private schools in the United States. NAIS has more than 1,600 member schools which enroll nearly 700,000 students. 2

Leadership

Debra Wilson has been the president of Southern Association of Independent Schools since 2019. She previously spent nearly two decades as the general counsel for NAIS. Before that, she worked for the U.S. Department of Justice as a tax litigator. 3

Financials

In 2020, Southern Association of Independent Schools raised close to $2.2 million in total revenue, mostly from program service fees. 4 It also received a $150,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation. 5

Critical Race Theory

In February 2022, the right-of-center law publication Legal Insurrection announced the launch of an investigation into National Association of Independent Schools and its member organizations, which include Southern Association of Independent Schools. Led by journalist and former teacher Paul Rossi, the investigation centers on the apparent promotion of left-progressive race and gender ideology within NAIS. Legal Insurrection highlighted statements by leading left-progressive activists affiliated with NAIS, as well as curriculum changes which the association expects its member organizations to implement. 6

NAIS has hosted Bettina Love, the co-founder of the radical-left Abolitionist Teaching Network, as a keynote speaker at its “People of Color Conference.” Love’s organization claims that school disciplinary measures are a form of “spirit murder” of minority children. The association has also promoted the writings of radical-left ideologue Ibram X. Kendi, who claims that race-neutral policies are inherently discriminatory. To suppress opposition to its policies and curriculum recommendations, the NAIS has recommended that its member schools bar parents from involvement in their school communities and even expel their children. The association has also recommended that school administrators treat dissenting parents and community members as if they are mentally ill. 6

References

  1. “About SAIS.” Southern Association of Independent Schools. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://sais.org/about-sais/about-sais-overview/
  2. “About NAIS.” National Association of Independent Schools. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.nais.org/about/about-nais/
  3. “SAIS President: Debra Wilson.” Southern Association of Independent Schools. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://sais.org/about-sais/contact/presidents-page/
  4. Southern Association of Independent Schools, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/621062837/05_2021_prefixes_59-62%2F621062837_202012_990_2021052118169609
  5. “Special Grants.” Edward E. Ford Foundation. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://www.eeford.org/past-special-grants
  6. Paul Rossi. “Project Launch: Unmasking National Association of Independent Schools.” Legal Insurrection. February 9, 2022. Accessed February 20, 2022. https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/02/project-launch-unmasking-national-association-of-independent-schools/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1990

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,500,972 $2,236,117 $3,092,052 $1,044,503 N $0 $2,431,139 $58,747 $474,958 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,256,778 $2,053,552 $2,548,086 $1,034,227 N $1,400,325 $679,209 $42,684 $286,017 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,072,565 $1,907,761 $2,380,692 $861,783 N $1,332,304 $596,737 $38,541 $424,611
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,875,989 $1,802,436 $2,001,332 $817,089 N $1,260,582 $572,424 $22,383 $536,992
    2015 Dec Form 990 $1,847,441 $1,811,262 $1,686,718 $714,304 N $1,159,734 $604,244 $33,581 $391,217 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,684,752 $1,677,048 $1,665,740 $645,670 N $1,059,572 $553,250 $26,826 $379,358 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $858,527 $825,254 $1,599,130 $602,378 N $494,969 $347,654 $15,904 $242,635 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $1,556,957 $1,651,147 $1,304,759 $399,747 N $938,300 $612,965 $5,692 $232,204 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $1,256,131 $1,468,180 $1,276,922 $334,298 N $859,892 $394,774 $6,661 $225,100 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $1,177,389 $1,191,330 $1,438,538 $286,101 N $837,164 $333,602 $6,623 $204,692 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)

    6050 PEACHTREE PKWY STE 240-199
    NORCROSS, GA 30092-3802