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The Ross Institute Inc

EIN 01-0880911 · East Hampton, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Our mission is to change the way education meets the future; to foster interdisciplinary, integrated thinking and innovative leadership; to engage fully in the global community; and to facilitate lifelong learning.

Income
$23.2 million
Spending
$30.2 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
290
Volunteers
87
Highest pay
$563,437, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $25.4 million spent. Tuition and fees - Offer an Early Childhood education program (Pre-Nursery to Pre-K) and K-12 college preparatory curriculum with campuses in East Hampton and Bridgehampton, New York. Ross also has a boarding program for grades 6-12. For the fiscal year 2024, approximately 325 students were enrolled.
  2. $1.4 million spent. Summer camp income - Summer camp for children Pre-Nursery to grade 12.
  3. $546,402 spent. The Tennis Center is open to the public after school hours. There are a variety of different programs and services offered - clinics, classes, court rentals, tournaments, mixers, match plays, summer camps and lessons. The Tennis Academy program (RSTA) runs during the week and is a small, intimate program that allows players to develop lasting relationships with coaches while receiving personalized instruction. Athletes who attend RSTA receive high-performance tennis training while following a stimulating college preparatory curriculum with their peers during the school year. Adult classes run in the morning and about 80 adults enroll per session. After school programs range from ages 5-15 and about 110 kids are enrolled in this program. Court rentals are offered on the weekends with about 100 clients regularly booking court rentals. Lessons are offered after school and on the weekends with ages ranging from 3-70. Ross has about 180 clients regularly booking lessons. Junior tournaments and match plays are offered on the weekends for ages 8-18 and about 200 kids normally sign up for tournaments. The summer camp is held from June - August for ages 5-16 with about 300 kids enrolled.
  4. Other school programs - Auxiliary programs and income, including TECH program, housing for summer teachers, yearbook income and other various school programs and support activities.
  5. (Expenses $ including grants of $)(Revenue $ 569,943) Other school programs - Auxiliary programs and income, including TECH program, housing for summer teachers, yearbook income and other various school programs and support activities.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.