Fay School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO NURTURE EACH CHILD'S POTENTIAL THROUGH A BROAD, BALANCED, AND CHALLENGING PROGRAM THAT ESTABLISHES THE FOUNDATION FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
- Income
- $38.9 million
- Spending
- $38.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- -5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 78%
- Employees
- 317
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $864,518, former head of school
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: 52 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 10Did not give 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)
- $30.2 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND EDUCATION: FORMAL EDUCATION OF 499 STUDENTS' GRADES K-9 IN CO-ED DAY & BOARDING SETTING. AS A DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE NINE AND AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER FROM AGES 2.9 TO 5, FAY SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY BUILT ON FIVE CORE VALUES: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE; HONORABLE CONDUCT; DEDICATED SERVICE; EARNEST EFFORT; AND WELLNESS OF MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. WHILE THE SCHOOL HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1866, OUR CENTRAL PURPOSE HAS REMAINED CONSTANT. FAY PROVIDES A BROAD AND CHALLENGING PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO DISCOVER THEIR TALENTS, DEVELOP THEIR INTELLECTUAL ABILITIES, ESTABLISH ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND DEFINE THEIR MORAL CHARACTER. EARNEST EFFORT HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED THROUGH THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY, AS ENSHRINED IN OUR MOTTO, POTERIS MODO VELIS ("YOU CAN IF YOU WILL"). FAY IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING CHILDREN TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS BY HELPING THEM RECOGNIZE AND DEVELOP THEIR INTELLECTUAL AESTHETIC, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL CAPABILITIES. WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS ESSENTIAL, ENDURING SKILLS: TO READ WELL, TO WRITE AND SPEAK CLEARLY AND COHERENTLY, TO REASON SOUNDLY, TO QUESTION THOUGHTFULLY, AND TO STUDY EFFECTIVELY. THESE SKILLS SUPPORT THEIR ABILITY TO LEAD, TO COLLABORATE, TO CREATE, AND TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.LOVE OF LEARNING BRINGS US TOGETHER, AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO BE CURIOUS, CREATIVE, AND OPEN TO NEW IDEAS. FAY'S SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO TAKE RISKS AND ENCOURAGES THEM TO LEARN FROM MISTAKES, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS REGARDING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ETHICAL CONDUCT. OUR TEACHERS KNOW THEIR STUDENTS AS INDIVIDUALS AND HELP THEM COME TO KNOW THEMSELVES. AS FAY STUDENTS GROW, THEY DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING AN ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHS AS LEARNERS.HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, EMPATHY, AND KINDNESS INFORM OUR CONDUCT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANNERS, CIVILITY, AND INTEGRITY ARE HALLMARKS OF OUR SCHOOL. AT EVERY GRADE LEVEL, WE EMPHASIZE AN OBLIGATION TO HELP ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS. AS A HOME FOR BOARDING STUDENTS FROM MANY CULTURES AND BACKGROUND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD, FAY IS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT RECOGNIZES, RESPECTS, AND CELEBRATES THE FULL RANGE OF HUMAN DIVERSITY. IN ALL OF THESE WAYS, FAY PREPARES OUR STUDENTS TO LEAD PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING LIVES THAT MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
- $1.2 million spent. SUMMER PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUMMER DAY CAMP, AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BOARDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM. SUMMER CAMP IS A DYNAMIC, HANDS-ON PROGRAM, FOR CHILDREN AGES THREE THROUGH FIFTEEN. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES CAMPERS AND STUDENTS WITH AN ENGAGING AND NURTURING ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCOURAGES EXPLORATION, CREATIVITY, AND LASTING CONNECTIONS AMONG CHILDREN AND ADULTS.THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BOARDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AGED 10-15 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FAY EXPERIENCE REGARDLESS OF THEIR LEVEL OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. IT PROVIDES A MEANINGFUL INTRODUCTION TO FAY FOR STUDENTS ENROLLING FULL TIME IN THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR AS WELL AS A STAND-ALONE PROGRAM FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO WISH TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WITH THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CHALLENGE AND 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1924.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.