Anonymous contributors pledged $405,000 to help Philadelphia buy out the contract of its top schools official, writes The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Arlene Ackerman stepped aside as superintendent Monday after weeks of public wrangling with Mayor Michael Nutter and will receive a $905,000 settlement. Mr. Nutter had set a $500,000 cap on government support to void her contract.

Neither Mr. Nutter nor Philadelphia School District officials would identify the donors, whose contributions were routed through a nonprofit organization, the Philadelphia Children First Fund.

The Inquirer reported last week that local business leaders had been solicited to help support Ms. Ackerman’s ouster.

Laura Solomon, a lawyer who advises nonprofits, said the gifts appear to be legal and that as long as they were designated for a charity, the names of the donors do not need to be disclosed.