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Buckingham Browne and Nichols School

EIN 04-2103751 · Cambridge, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$76.7 million
Spending
$73.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-3.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
609
Volunteers
372
Highest pay
$740,888, 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: 55 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 35 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 30 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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. $62.4 million spent. BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL (BB&N) IS A PREK-12 INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ENROLLING 1,049 STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN 95 DIFFERENT TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE GREATER BOSTON REGION. BB&N IS AN ACADEMICALLY EXCELLENT, DIVERSE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE STUDENTS DEVELOP INTO LIFELONG LEARNERS WHO LEAD WITH KINDNESS, CURIOSITY, AND INTEGRITY. WE PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND OPEN-MINDED AS THEY ENGAGE WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM. OUR COMMUNITY IS UNIFIED THROUGH FOUR CORE VALUES: INQUIRY, THROUGH WHICH WE PROMOTE CURIOSITY AND CRITICAL THINKING TO INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING; INTEGRITY, THROUGH WHICH WE STRIVE TO BE HONEST, CONSCIENTIOUS, AND ACCOUNTABLE IN OUR ACTIONS EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING; BELONGING, THROUGH WHICH WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF RESPECT, WELL-BEING, AND CONNECTION THAT VALUES ALL INDIVIDUALS AND EMPOWERS THEM TO DISCOVER AND BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES; AND KINDNESS, THROUGH WHICH WE STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES BY RECOGNIZING OUR COMMON HUMANITY AND TREATING OURSELVES AND OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND COMPASSION.
  2. $1.5 million spent. BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL HOLDS A SUMMER CAMP FOR BOSTON AREA CHILDREN EACH SUMMER THAT PROVIDES MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH A HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE OPTION TO EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN THEIR CHILDREN DURING SUMMER VACATION.
  3. BB&N, AN ALL GENDER DAY SCHOOL IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1974 BY THE MERGER OF TWO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, THE BUCKINGHAM SCHOOL AND THE BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL, FOUNDED RESPECTIVELY IN 1889 AND 1883. LOCATED ON MULTIPLE CAMPUSES, WE WORK AS ONE SCHOOL IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. WE CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY WHICH ENRICHES OUR DAILY EXPERIENCE. AT BB&N, WE FOSTER INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, CRITICAL THINKING AND A DEEP CONCERN AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, COORDINATED FROM BEGINNERS THROUGH GRADE TWELVE, PROVIDES A RIGOROUS CORE CURRICULUM, TAUGHT IN FLEXIBLE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS. STUDENTS ACQUIRE THE SKILLS AND DISCIPLINE NECESSARY FOR ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENT AND LEARN TO REFLECT, TAKE RISKS AND TO DISCOVER. THE CURRICULUM IS STRENGTHENED BY OUR COMMITMENT TO A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN THE ARTS AND ATHLETICS. IN ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES, BOTH THOSE WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND THOSE WHICH USE OUR URBAN LOCATION, WE ENCOURAGE SELF-RELIANCE, KNOWLEDGE OF ONESELF, AND A CAPACITY FOR LEADERSHIP. THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR SCHOOL. WE ASK MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ENGAGED LEARNERS, COMPASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS, AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS WHO LIVE OUR SCHOOL'S MOTTO: "HONOR, SCHOLARSHIP, AND KINDNESS."

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 August 1940.

    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.