Independence Mission Schools helps underserved students of all faiths living throughout Philadelphia. Our inspiring new network of 15 schools blends the best of Catholic education with innovative teaching strategies designed to meet the unique learning needs of students from low-income communities.
Our unique model brings together a group of former parish elementary schools into a thriving independent network that is working to provide access to high-quality education to thousands of inner-city children.

Independence Mission Schools is a Pennsylvania nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Philadelphia is home to the first Catholic schools in the nation and has a long history helping the city’s immigrant population get a successful start. As the urban landscape has evolved, our inner-city population has become much more diverse ethnically, racially, and religiously. Now, more than ever, Catholic education is vitally important to provide the promise of quality education to low-income families.

Independence Mission Schools was born out of the recognition that urban Catholic schools are crucial civic assets and the need for a new model of operation to ensure their survival.

It started with one school — St. Martin de Porres — located in the second poorest congressional district in the country. Once serving a largely Irish immigrant base, and one of many schools in the immediate vicinity, it is now the only Catholic school in this section of Philadelphia. The school serves a student body of 500 children, which is entirely African American and almost entirely non-Catholic. A small pool of dedicated philanthropists took on this school and began investing in the school’s facilities, programs, and strategic planning. Their approach was overwhelmingly successful and created the blueprint for the network that would later become Independence Mission Schools.

In 2012 when the future of Catholic schools across Philadelphia was threatened, this same group of investors, along with a small group of other engaged citizens, rose to the need for leadership and set out to emulate the success of St. Martin de Porres on a broader scale. In 2013 they formed Independence Mission Schools as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, assuming the complete and independent operation of 15 schools from their parishes and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The agreement underlying this transfer is one of national example and unprecedented for the degree of transparency and control of Catholic schools given to an independent organization.

As a 501 (c)(3) private, non-profit organization. Our operating model is built upon delivering transparency and accountability that extends to all of our 15 network schools. You can find out more in the links below.

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• • Audited Financials

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• • Audited Financials

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• • Annual Report

  • IRS 990

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• • Annual Report

  • IRS 990

The dynamic model supporting the operation of Independence Mission Schools is a critical factor in our organization’s overall success. Three key factors are the core of our innovative system:

Modern Operating Infrastructure

Our central office provides support for managing the business of schools, so our schools can be in the business of educating children. Our universal financial aid process, robust accounting and financial systems, and strategic talent acquisition plan are all designed to support school leadership while providing transparency and accountability.

Empowering Autonomy

Our independent schools are at the center of decision-making to best serve their students. This ensures they retain their school identity which is critical to building social capital in their communities. Each school leadership team manages its own budget, makes hiring decisions, and makes and meets its own enrollment goals. Additionally, each school boasts its own local board to support philanthropy efforts and advance their ties to alumni, community and corporate partners.

Faith Driven for Academic Success

Our drive for high-quality academics is intrinsically linked with our strong Catholic identity. Catholic schools have always known it is about more than what you learn in the classroom, it is about who you become. Building on this legacy, the focus of personal responsibility and development is central to our approach and vital to our students’ success.

Who do Independence Mission Schools serve?

The short answer: everyone! Independence Mission Schools is a non-profit network of 15 elementary schools with a strong legacy of helping inner-city children succeed. Our goal is to provide high-quality education in a faith-driven environment for students of all faiths and all cultures. Our mission is to provide a transformative Catholic education that closes the achievement gap for our students and empowers them to reach their full potential today and in the future.

What is Independence Mission Schools?

IMS is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) managing a network of 15 independent Catholic schools.

Are IMS Schools Catholic Schools?

Yes, IMS schools are Catholic schools, but they are not owned or operated by a parish or the Archdiocese. While the majority of our students are non-Catholic, parent surveys show one of their top reasons to choose an IMS school is because they want their child educated in an environment that emphasizes character development. Our curriculum emphasizes respect of the diversity of our student population while teaching from a traditional Catholic perspective, Gospel values that are respected by all faiths.

What is the Biggest Challenge IMS Students Face?

IMS students who are living in poverty or in high poverty communities face a multitude of challenges including food insecurity, home insecurity, violence and fundamental learning deficits that disrupts focus and their ability to learn. For our students to be successful, we know we must meet these needs first for them to be ready to learn.

Bruce Robinson is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

Bruce has both private and nonprofit sector leadership experience, and has successfully applied his acquired business skills in the education sector. He is responsible for managing all aspects of IMS, including strategic planning, fundraising, financial sustainability, academics, Catholic culture, talent development and enrollment management. He has education leadership experience from successfully turning around Ss. Neumann Goretti Catholic High School in South Philadelphia, which was struggling academically and financially. His achievements included developing a strategic plan focused on operational and academic excellence, accountability and creating a culture of compassion and positivity. Under his tenure the school saw freshmen enrollment increase significantly, operating deficits decrease and financial support from Foundations and philanthropists flourish.

Bruce previously was a founding investor and executive officer of GMH Communities Trust, a real estate investment trust specializing in college housing properties and military housing privatization. Bruce’s leadership helped the company grow substantially and it went public on the NYSE in 2004. The Company traded for four years before being sold to strategic buyers, including a $2 billion market cap British construction conglomerate Balfour Beatty. He continued to lead the military housing privatization initiative as CEO/President of Balfour Beatty Capital Group, a real estate company with an asset portfolio valued in excess of $5 billion, and which had over 1100 employees in 23 states. Bruce has also served as an adjunct professor at Drexel University in both their undergraduate and graduate programs.

Bruce grew up in Philadelphia and with his wife Anne has raised four children.

Mamie Doyle Mannella is Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Independence Mission Schools (IMS)

In this capacity, she oversees the day to day operations of the central management office to ensure that the operational systems, processes, and personnel, are aligned properly to achieve the stated objectives of the organization.

Mamie began her career in education through Teach for America (TFA) and taught 6th grade in the Kensington community of Philadelphia. Following her time in the classroom, she joined TFA’s central office staff in a variety of capacities, including leading the region’s fundraising and development efforts as Managing Director of Development and later as Chief of Staff where she oversaw the region’s internal strategic planning operations and processes, and its talent recruitment efforts.

After her time at TFA, Mamie served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). Additionally, she served as Director of the Office of Educator Recruitment & Preparation at NJDOE supporting over 600 districts and dozens of educator preparation programs across the state to improve the support and training of new teachers. She then worked for the Rodel Foundation of Delaware as their Senior Director of Policy.

Mamie grew up in St. Louis and attended Catholic school throughout elementary and high school.   She now resides in Philadelphia with her husband, Marc and their son, Quincy.

Greg Vincent is the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at Independence Mission Schools IMS

Greg is a former NYC public school teacher and department chair who has worked for over 15 years to expand educational opportunities for underserved students. As an executive at The New Teacher Project (TNTP) Greg oversaw a department of over 50 consultants working across dozens of school districts on a range of projects to increase teacher and leader effectiveness. This work included the re-design of the organization’s teacher training programs and work with school systems to align curriculum, instruction, and professional development practices to the Common Core State Standards.

Greg grew up in the Catholic faith as a member of St. Bridget’s parish in East Falls. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s in City Planning degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a proud father and husband.