Derryfield School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL INSPIRES BRIGHT, MOTIVATED YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES NEEDED TO BE VALUED, DYNAMIC, CONFIDENT, AND PURPOSEFUL MEMBERS OF ANY COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $20.9 million
- Spending
- $20.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- -4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 88%
- Employees
- 200
- Volunteers
- 132
- Highest pay
- $385,858, head of school/trustee
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
Fair: 51 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 47 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: 93 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $15.9 million spent. AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT WITH ENROLLMENT AS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. BY THE NUMBERS, 28% OF OUR POPULATION (384 STUDENTS) SELF-IDENTIFY AS PERSONS OF COLOR, AS COMPARED TO 16% IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. IN ADDITION, 40% OF DERRYFIELD STUDENTS RECEIVED NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID, INCLUDING SEVEN AMOSKEAG SCHOLARS WHO ATTEND TUITION-FREE, AND REPRESENT BRIGHT AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS FROM LOCAL UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, DERRYFIELD ENROLLS SIX STUDENTS AS CARLSON SCHOLARS AND MALONE SCHOLARS; THESE STUDENTS QUALIFY THROUGH BOTH A FINANCIAL AND ADMISSION LENS, AND ENROLL WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR ENDOWED FUNDS.THIS YEAR, OUR 60TH, WE LOOKED BACK TO CELEBRATE WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, AND ALSO LOOKED FORWARD WITH OPTIMISM ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR DERRYFIELD. A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A YEAR-LONG, COOPERATIVE EFFORT THAT ENGAGED EVERY CONSTITUENCY THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS, ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADOPTED THIS NEW PLAN IN MAY. AT THE CORE OF THE PROCESS WAS A CRUCIAL BALANCE BETWEEN PRESERVING THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICES THAT DEFINE DERRYFIELD'S IDENTITY AND SUCCESS WHILE ADAPTING PROACTIVELY TO FUTURE NEEDS, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES.THE SCHOOL HAS STAYED TRUE TO ITS MISSION, AND STRIVES TO BE A REGIONAL AND STATE LEADER IN EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION. OUR STRATEGIC PLANS KEEP US FOCUSED ON BEING THOUGHT LEADERS, KEEPING OUR PEDAGOGY AND FACILITIES CURRENT AND INNOVATIVE, AND STAYING CONNECTED TO THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY. AS A COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, WE EXCEL AT DEVELOPING SKILLS AND LIFELONG HABITS THAT SET OUR ALUMNI UP FOR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND. FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE 2025, 100% OF THE CLASS WAS ADMITTED TO FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, 100%TO ONE OF THEIR TOP THREE CHOICES. AS A WHOLE, THE CLASS WAS OFFERED OVER $17.6 MILLION PER YEAR IN NON-NEED BASED MERIT AID FROM THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. ALUMNI CONTINUE TO CONNECT BACK TO DERRYFIELD, MOST NOTABLY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE VALUABLE COLLEGE AND CAREER ADVICE TO DERRYFIELD STUDENTS AND YOUNG ALUMNI USING DERRYFIELD CONNECT, AN ONLINE PLATFORM THAT OFFERS NETWORKING RESOURCES.IN FY25 THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL WAS SUCCESSFUL IN COMPLETING THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR THE MATARESE COMMONS. THIS COMPLETES NEARLY A DECADE OF FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS TO ELEVATE OUR SPACES TO MATCH OUR EXCELLENT PROGRAM. THIS DECADE SAW THE ADDITION OF THE ATHLETIC & WELLNESS CENTER, SCIENCE & INNOVATION CENTER, THE BERK TENNIS COMPLEX, AND THE MATARESE COMMONS. IN ADDITION TO THE SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WE'VE BUILT BACK OUR ANNUAL FUND, AND IN FY25 MET AND EXCEEDED OUR GOAL. THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR SAW A CONTINUATION OF COLLABORATIONS WITH THE GREATER MANCHESTER COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEER STUDENTS PARTNERED WITH THE CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS TO HELP TUTOR READING AND WRITING SKILLS TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER STUDENTS. FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, OUR STUDENTS HAVE WORKED WITH ATHLETES AT THE ANNUAL NH SPECIAL OLYMPICS WINTER GAMES, A THREE-DAY EVENT IN WATERVILLE VALLEY, WHICH DREW 39 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN 2025. EVERY OCTOBER, STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-11 PARTICIPATE IN A FULL DAY OF SERVICE. LAST FALL, THE HIGHLIGHT WAS A NEW COLLABORATION, IN WHICH STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A LARGE-SCALE BED-BUILDING PROJECT FOR SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE. ONGOING VOLUNTEER COMMITMENTS INCLUDE DISTRIBUTION AT THE NH FOOD BANK SITE ON SATURDAY MORNINGS (NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY), AND VOLUNTEERING AT DARBSTER ANIMAL RESCUE (FRESHMAN CLASS). FOR THE 18TH YEAR, DERRYFIELD STUDENTS PARTNERED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DURING SPRING BREAK TO BUILD HOMES ALONGSIDE CONSTRUCTION STAFF AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS. IN ADDITION, THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO SHARING OUR FACILITIES WITH LOCAL, FELLOW NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024, TWO SUCH ORGANIZATIONS ONCE AGAIN UTILIZED OUR TENNIS COURTS: - CHABAD OF NH, OUR NEIGHBOR DOWN THE ROAD, CAME TO DERRYFIELD FOR FOUR WEEKS IN JULY. A DOZEN CHILDREN FROM THEIR DAY CAMP PROGRAM RECEIVED TENNIS INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONE OF THEIR COUNSELORS. - YOUTH CO-ED TENNIS, A (NOMINALLY) FREE PROGRAM OFFERED TO MANCHESTER CHILDREN, UTILIZED THE DERRYFIELD COURTS THE WEEK OF JULY 22-26 FOR THEIR HALF-DAY TENNIS PROGRAM. APPROXIMATELY 15 CHILDREN ATTENDED THE CAMP.DERRYFIELD ALSO PROVIDES A BUS EACH YEAR TO THE HOOKSETT KIWANIS CLUB FOR THEIR SEPTEMBER ROAD RACE EVENT. DERRYFIELD'S AIM TO INSPIRE BRIGHT, MOTIVATED STUDENTS TO BE THEIR BEST AND TO BECOME LEADERS FOR THE COMMON GOOD GIVES PURPOSE TO OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, AND ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER STELLAR YEAR.
- $618,420 spent. THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL HAS HOSTED BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER ON CAMPUS FOR THE PAST 34 YEARS. EVERYONE IS A TEACHER AND A LEARNER AT BREAKTHROUGH! WITH THREE AND A HALF DECADES OF A UNIQUE, PROVEN STUDENTS-TEACHING-STUDENTS DUAL MISSION, BREAKTHROUGH MANCHESTER IS A LEADER IN EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND ACCESS. BREAKTHROUGH NARROWS THE OPPORTUNITY GAP BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT EMPOWER SCHOLARS TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO ACHIEVE POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS. BREAKTHROUGH ALSO TRAINS ASPIRING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-AGED LEADERS AS FUTURE EDUCATORS, THEREBY STRENGTHENING AND DIVERSIFYING THE TEACHER PIPELINE. THE SIX-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM FOR MANCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS IS THE FOUNDATION OF BREAKTHROUGH'S SIX-YEAR COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM, FOCUSING ON RIGOROUS ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT COMBINED WITH SUMMER CAMP FUN. MANCHESTER STUDENTS INCLUDE: 68% WILL BE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES 90% IDENTIFY AS STUDENTS OF COLOR 64% QUALIFY FOR FREE/REDUCED LUNCH 32% LIVE WITH AN ALTERNATIVE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD (SINGLE PARENT, RELATIVE, FOSTER) 84% SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOMETHE SUMMER FILLS IN GAPS FROM THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR AND EQUIPS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS WITH SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN THE YEAR AHEAD. COLLEGE-AGED TEACHING FELLOWS MENTOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, ADDING CREATIVE TWISTS IN MATH, SCIENCE, LITERATURE, AND WRITING. AFTER CORE CLASSES EACH MORNING, THERE ARE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS CHINESE, MUSIC, SPORTS, AND MYTHOLOGY, FOLLOWED BY COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. DURING THE 7TH AND 8TH-GRADE SCHOOL YEARS, SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN SUPER SATURDAYS. HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS SERVE AS TEACHERS AND MENTORS, AND COMPLEMENT THE SUMMER AND SCHOOL LEARNING WITH ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC EXPLORATIONS. IN HIGH SCHOOL, SCHOLARS PARTICIPATE IN BREAKTHROUGH COLLEGE-BOUND, HOSTED AT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY, WITH A FOCUS ON COLLEGE ADMISSION, INCLUDING CAMPUS VISITS, APPLICATION TIPS, FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS, WRITING A COLLEGE ESSAY, AND MORE. BREAKTHROUGH SCHOLAR OUTCOMES:BREAKTHROUGH STUDENTS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN LEARNING. EIGHTY PERCENT (80%) OF STUDENTS GREW OR MAINTAINED THEIR READING SKILLS, AND 74% OF STUDENTS MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED THEIR MATH SKILLS LAST SUMMER; A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT GIVEN THAT NATIONALLY, MOST STUDENTS LOSE TWO MONTHS OF MATH SKILLS OVER THE SUMMER, AND THOSE WITH FEWER RESOURCES OFTEN LOSE THREE. A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FROM A LOCAL MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL SHARED, "WE HAVE SOMETIMES FOUND THAT INCOMING FRESHMEN WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN BREAKTHROUGH MAKE TREMENDOUS GAINS OVER THE SUMMER, AND OUR ORIGINAL ACADEMIC PLACEMENT FOR THEM IS NO LONGER THE RIGHT FIT". AFTER BREAKTHROUGH'S MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM, 100% OF OUR STUDENTS ENROLL IN BREAKTHROUGH COLLEGE-BOUND AT SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY, AND 100% OF BREAKTHROUGH ALUMNI PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION, WITH 98% ATTENDING 4-YEAR COLLEGES. BREAKTHROUGH ALUMNI ARE PERSISTING AT HIGHER RATES THAN COMPARISON GROUPS AND GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE, BUT THEY ALSO EXCEED THE NATIONAL COLLEGE GRADUATION AVERAGE FOR ALL STUDENTS. THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF BREAKTHROUGH STUDENTS, NOW COLLEGE GRADUATES, PURSUING THEIR PASSIONS IN THE WORKFORCE AS ENGINEERS, LAWYERS, DOCTORS, EDUCATORS, AND MORE. TEACHING FELLOW OUTCOMES:OVER THE PAST THREE SUMMERS, 78% OF OUR TEACHING FELLOWS (14 OF THE 18 WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE) LAUNCHED CAREERS IN EDUCATION. MANY COMMIT TO TEACHING STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, WHERE COMPASSIONATE TEACHERS ARE NEEDED THE MOST. IN FACT, AT THE END OF THIS SUMMER, A TEACHING FELLOW SHARED, "BREAKTHROUGH HAS TRULY CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON MY LIFE SO MUCH THAT I AM NOW CONSIDERING A CAREER IN THE POLITICAL SCIENCE OR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FIELD BECAUSE I AM INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE. I TRULY FELT LIKE I WAS A PART OF A GREAT MOVEMENT LAST SUMMER, AND THAT MY DAILY EFFORTS AS A TEACHER WERE FURTHERING MY STUDENTS' ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES." SCHOOL YEAR:TO KEEP OUR SCHOLARS ENGAGED AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR EDUCATIONAL PATHWAYS, BREAKTHROUGH PROVIDES A SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM WITH FIVE SUPER SATURDAYS. PARTNERING WITH DERRYFIELD AND OTHER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, WE RECRUITED 15 HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS TO SERVE AS TEACHERS AND MENTORS FOR OUR 56 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE THEMES FOR THE SATURDAYS INCLUDED: PERSONAL PASSIONS, MATH AROUND THE WORLD, "TIME TRAVEL, HISTORY, AND GEOGRAPHY", AND FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS. OUR FINAL SATURDAY WAS A COLLABORATION WITH DERRYFIELD'S MODEL UN. BREAKTHROUGH SCHOLARS EMBRACED THEIR ROLES AS UNITED NATIONS DELEGATES REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, JAPAN, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE TOPIC, CHOSEN DUE TO STUDENTS' CONCERN, WAS MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS. IT WAS INSPIRING TO SEE OUR STUDENTS TACKLE FINDING SOLUTIONS FROM THEIR COUNTRY'S PERSPECTIVE TO NEGOTIATE AND COME TO A CONSENSUS ON PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS. SOME OF THE DEBATES AND NEGOTIATIONS GOT QUITE ANIMATED ALONG THE WAY! SCHOLARS AND TEACHING INTERNS WERE TRULY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS- IT WAS A WONDERFUL WAY TO WRAP UP BREAKTHROUGH'S SUPER SATURDAY SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM! FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY:BREAKTHROUGH EXCEEDED ITS FUNDRAISING GOAL BY APPROXIMATELY $16,000, IN FY25. THIS IS DUE IN PART TO A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT, "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A BREAKTHROUGH STUDENT?" WHICH RAISED OVER $70,000, COMPARED TO $50,000 THE PREVIOUS YEAR.AT A TIME OF WIDENING OPPORTUNITY GAPS AND A TEACHER SHORTAGE CRISIS, BREAKTHROUGH'S WORK TO INSPIRE STUDENTS AND CULTIVATE FUTURE EDUCATORS IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROSITY OF MANY FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAKE BREAKTHROUGH HAPPEN - ESPECIALLY THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL FOR ITS GENEROUS IN-KIND SUPPORT.
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
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 October 13, 2026.
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 November 6, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1964.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 2026.
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