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Phillips Exeter Academy

EIN 02-0222174 · Exeter, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$239.9 million
Spending
$166.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
13.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 52%
Employees
1,314
Volunteers
4,177
Highest pay
$868,710, principal

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 28% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $136.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OPHILLIP EXETER ACADEMY'S PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVICE IS THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12 IN A RESIDENTIAL BOARDING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. APPROXIMATELY 20% OF STUDENTS ARE DAY STUDENTS AND DO NOT RESIDE ON CAMPUS. ENROLLMENT FOR 2024-2025 WAS 1,106. THE FOUNDATION OF EXETER'S REGULAR SESSION CURRICULUM CONTINUES TO BE THE TEACHING METHOD MADE POSSIBLE IN 1931 BY THE GENEROSITY OF EDWARD HARKNESS: DISCUSSION IN SMALL CLASSES MEETING AROUND SEMINAR TABLES WHERE MAXIMUM STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND INTERCHANGE ARE BOTH ENCOURAGED AND REQUIRED. SINCE 1931, THIS PROCESS HAS CONTINUED WHILE THE CONTENT OF THE CURRICULUM HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL REVISIONS AS EXETER HAS SOUGHT TO BLEND ITS RESPECT FOR TRADITION WITH ITS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.THE CURRENT CURRICULUM IS BASED ON TWO FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT AN EXETER EDUCATION. FIRST, EXETER VIEWS ITS CHARGE AS PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A BROAD, LIBERAL ARTS PROGRAM THAT CREATES A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUING STUDY AT THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL. SECOND, THE ACADEMY BELIEVES THE PROCESS OF EDUCATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS ITS CONTENT. FACULTY EMPHASIZE NOT MERELY WHAT THEY WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW, BUT ALSO WHAT SORTS OF INDIVIDUALS THEY WANT THEM TO BECOME: YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE PASSION FOR LEARNING EXCEEDS WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW AND WHOSE INTEREST IN OTHERS AND IN THE WORLD SURPASSES THEIR SELF-CONCERN. EXETER'S SCHOOL YEAR CONSISTS OF THREE TERMS, WHICH ALLOWS EXPANDED ELECTIVE CHOICES ACROSS A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES TO BE COMBINED WITH A FOCUS ON DEPTH OF STUDY IN ADVANCED COURSES IN EACH DEPARTMENT. STUDENTS NORMALLY ENROLL IN FIVE COURSES AND PARTICIPATE IN A SPORT EACH TERM.EVERY YEAR, STUDENTS COME TO US FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND ARE ADMITTED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE FAMILY'S ABILITY TO PAY. THE ACADEMY IS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE FULL DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED OF EACH ADMITTED STUDENT AND APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID.
  2. $6.4 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OPHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY'S SUMMER SCHOOL: TYPICALLY, EVERY SUMMER PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY'S EXETER SUMMER PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1919, WELCOMES STUDENTS TO CAMPUS FOR FIVE WEEKS OF ACADEMIC STUDY, ATHLETICS, AND EXPLORATION THAT CARRY PARTICIPANTS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOMS AND THE PLAYING FIELDS.
  3. $755,038 spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES INCLUDE STUDENT GRILL, FACILITY RENTALS, AND THE CHILDREN'S CENTER WHICH SERVICE THE ACADEMY DURING BOTH SUMMER AND REGULAR SESSIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 July 1946.

    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.