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Poker Hill School Inc

EIN 03-0289409 · Underhill, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair56 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A PRE-SCHOOL PROVIDER, POKER HILL SCHOOL VIEWS LEARNING DEVELOPMENTALLY. IT IS A PROCESS WHICH WE CAN NURTURE AND GUIDE BUT WE TRUST EACH CHILD TO DEVELOP IN HIS OR HER OWN UNIQUE WAY. WE SUPPORT EACH CHILDS GROWTH AS AN AUTONOMOUS INDIVIDUAL WITHIN A CARING AND DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY. WE STRIVE TO MAKE EACH CHILD FEEL RESPECTED AND VALUED. TEACHERS FACILITATE CHILDRENS GROWTH BY ENCOURAGING THE CHILDREN TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS TO DIRECT THEIR OWN PATH OF LEARNING. CHILDREN SELECT THEIR OWN CHORES, HAVE LARGE BLOCKS OF FREE PLAY, AND CHOOSE THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES FOR MORNING ACTIVITY TIME. THE TEACHERS ALSO ATTEMPT TO REFLECT THE CHILDRENS INTERESTS AND NEEDS IN BOTH OUR LARGE GROUP AND SMALL GROUP PLANNING.

Income
$755,846
Spending
$680,349
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
18
Volunteers
2
Highest pay
$64,862, director

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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (1)
  1. $630,518 spent. POKER HILL SCHOOL IS AN ACTIVITY-ORIENTED PRE-SCHOOL AFFORDING 80 STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BY DOING, SEEING, AND LISTENING. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SOLVE ACADEMIC PROBLEMS IN THEIR OWN WAYS AND ARE GUIDED IN THE PROCESS BY THEIR TEACHERS.

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 November 1984.

    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.