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Fenn School Inc

EIN 04-2104064 · Concord, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 80 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

GUIDED BY OUR MOTTO, SUA SPONTE, AND INSPIRED BY OUR CORE VALUES OF HONESTY, RESPECT, EMPATHY, AND COURAGE, THE FENN SCHOOL CHALLENGES EACH BOY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIMSELF, FOR HIS OWN EDUCATION, AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS. OUR BOYS THRIVE IN A DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND EMBRACES DIFFERENCE. AS PART OF AN EVER-CHANGING, INTERDEPENDENT WORLD, FENN EMPOWERS EACH BOY TO DEVELOP STRONG CHARACTER AND LEAD WITH INTEGRITY.

Income
$20.0 million
Spending
$22.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
222
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$582,945, 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: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 80 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 25 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $8.9 million spent. ACADEMIC PROGRAM - THE SCHOOL IS AN ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR APPROXIMATELY 315 BOYS, GRADES 4 THROUGH 9. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A SOLID CURRICULUM IN ENGLISH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATHEMATICS, AND LANGUAGES. MATHEMATICS AND LANGUAGE CURRICULA ALLOW FOR STANDARD-LEVEL AS WELL AS ADVANCED-LEVEL LEARNING, DEPENDING ON THE STUDENT'S ABILITIES. THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC PROGRAM IS AN UPWARD PROGRESSION TOWARD SOPHISTICATED COGNITIVE REASONING AND INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES TO PREPARE BOYS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION.
  2. $4.5 million spent. ARTS PROGRAM - BEGINNING IN GRADE 4, THE STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO A SIX-YEAR SEQUENTIAL CURRICULUM IN THE ARTS BEGINNING WITH STUDIO ART, DRAMA, MUSIC AND WOOD SHOP. AS THE STUDENT PROGRESSES THROUGH EACH GRADE OTHER ARTS PROGRAM OFFERINGS BECOME AVAILABLE, SUCH AS CERAMICS AND PHOTOGRAPHY. IN GRADES 8 AND 9, STUDENTS MAY SELECT FROM A BROAD ARRAY OF COURSES MENTIONED PLUS OTHERS SUCH AS PAINTING, CARTOONING, THEATER TECH, VIDEO PRODUCTION, STEEL DRUMS, GUITAR AND RHYTHM ENSEMBLE. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THREE ART REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION: ONE EACH IN FINE ARTS, DRAMATIC ARTS AND MUSICAL ARTS.
  3. $4.5 million spent. ATHLETICS PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES ATHLETIC COMPETENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND ENJOYMENT FOR STUDENTS OF VARYING ATHLETIC ABILITIES AND INTERESTS. IT STRESSES LEARNING AND PRACTICING INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SKILLS, AND IT OFFERS A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM ACTIVITIES WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF COMPETITION. AT ALL LEVELS GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP IS EMPHASIZED AS THE PRIMARY LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM A WELL ORGANIZED ATHLETIC PROGRAM. SPORTS OPTIONS, DEPENDING ON GRADE, INCLUDE SOCCER, FOOTBALL, CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK, BASKETBALL, WRESTLING, ICE HOCKEY, TENNIS, AND ALSO ALLOWS FOR SPORTS ALTERNATIVE WITH PARENTAL/SCHOOL APPROVAL.

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 March 1972.

    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.