Montessori Academy of Colorado
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 143 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO (MAC) IS A METROPOLITAN SCHOOL THAT ENGAGES EACH CHILD THROUGH INNOVATIVE ACADEMICS, EXPLORATION OF CHARACTER, AND A FEARLESS, FORWARD MINDSET. MAC IS DUALLY ACCRREDITED WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (AICS) AND AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY (AMS).
- Income
- $8.1 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- -15.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 94%
- Employees
- 118
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $228,104, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 82% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 143 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
7 of 7Has a 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 August 31, 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)
- $6.6 million spent. THE MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO (MAC) IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN FROM EIGHT WEEKS THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, LOCATED IN DENVER, COLORADO, AND ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY (AMS) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (ACIS). THE MISSION OF THE SCHOOL IS TO ENGAGE EACH CHILD THROUGH INNOVATIVE ACADEMICS, EXPLORATION OF CHARACTER, AND A FEARLESS, FORWARD MINDSET. MAC DELIVERS AN AUTHENTIC MONTESSORI EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN FROM EIGHT WEEKS THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, OFFERING PERSONALIZED, HANDS-ON LEARNING IN MIXED-AGE CLASSROOMS THAT NURTURES EACH CHILD'S INDIVIDUALITY WHILE FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE, COLLABORATION, AND A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING, AND A PURPOSE-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR GRADES SIX THROUGH EIGHT, GUIDING STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN SENSE OF PURPOSE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION TO APPROXIMATELY 260 STUDENTS, AND FUNDS ITS OPERATIONS PRIMARILY FROM TUITION AND FEES. MAC IS COMMITTED TO MAKING ITS PROGRAM ACCESSIBLE TO FAMILIES ACCROSS A RANGE OF FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROVIDES TUITION ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES EACH YEAR THROUGH ITS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 August 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 February 2003.
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 October 21, 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.