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Beacon Hill Nursery School

EIN 04-2255588 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

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

What it says it does

BEACON HILL NURSERY SCHOOL'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A NURTURING COMMUNITY THAT INSTILLS A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING IN ITS STUDENTS. GUIDED BY EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS, WE VALUE PLAY AS PURPOSEFUL AND CHERISH CHILDREN'S INNATE CURIOSITY.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
18.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
44
Volunteers
74
Highest pay
$300,585, executive 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% 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

    8 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 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 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 22 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $3.3 million spent. THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL MOMENTS IN A CHILD'S EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND TO BEGIN THE CORNERSTONE OF A CHILD'S EDUCATIONAL LIFE AT THIS MOMENT ENRICHES OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE. BEACON HILL NURSERY SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1955. OUR PRIMARY MISSION: TO NURTURE OUR STUDENTS' INNATE CURIOSITY AND LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING. WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN WHO DEVELOP STRONG SELFCONCEPTS AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOTH IN SCHOOL AND LATER IN LIFE.OUR TODDLER PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TODDLERS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AS PRESCHOOLERS BUT ADDRESSING THE VERY SPECIFIC NEEDS, CHALLENGES, AND DELIGHTS OF THIS PARTICULAR AGE GROUP. CHILDREN MUST HAVE TURNED TWO YEARS OLD BY THE OPENING OF SCHOOL AND WILL ATTEND EITHER 2 OR 3 MORNING OR AFTERNOON SESSIONS EACH WEEK. OUR TODDLER TEACHERS HAVE DESIGNED A CLASSROOM, CURRICULUM, AND OUTDOOR SPACE THAT ADDRESS THE VERY SPECIFIC AND IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A TWO-YEAR-OLD; THEY HAVE SPECIFIC TRAINING IN "TODDLERHOOD AND ATTEND NATIONAL TRAININGS AND CONFERENCES ON THE SUBJECT OF "TODDLING TWOS" THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR YOUNGER NURSERY STUDENTS, AGES 2.9 TO 3.11, ENJOY HAVING A SPACE OF THEIR OWN WHERE THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CREATING ART WORKS AND PLAYING WITH TACTILE AND SENSORY MATERIALS. THE CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SKILLS ALSO BLOOM AS THEY LEARN ABOUT SHARING, TAKING TURNS, AND THE VALUE OF COOPERATIVE PLAY. THEY DISCOVER THAT THEY ARE PART OF A LARGER WORLD, AND THAT THE REWARDS OF FRIENDSHIP ARE PLENTIFUL. OLDER NURSERY FOUR- AND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS ARE BECOMING SKILLED ORGANIZERS AND UNTIRING NEGOTIATORS WHO APPRECIATE FAIRNESS, REASON AND LOGIC. MUCH TIME IS SPENT EXPLORING THEIR WONDERFUL IDEAS AND MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEIR INCREASING CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE, WHILE MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF THEIR NOISY CURIOSITY, ENERGY, AND ENDLESS ENTHUSIASM. THE JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP PACE WITH CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL SKILLS WHICH ARE DEVELOPING AT A TREMENDOUS RATE. THROUGH DAILY DISCUSSIONS AND INDEPTH STUDY, WE NURTURE AND STIMULATE THAT GROWTH, WHILE ENCOURAGING SELF-CONFIDENCE, ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING, AND A RESPECT FOR OTHERS. TOPICS OF INTEREST ARISE FROM CHILDREN'S INTERESTS AND INQUIRY, AND PROJECTS MAY LAST A WEEK, A MONTH, OR A SEASON. EACH WEEK JUNIOR KINDERGARTNERS WRITE THEIR OWN BOOKS, DEVELOPING A TANGIBLE APPRECIATION FOR THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD. JUNIOR KINDERGARTNERS EXPLORE MATH MANIPULATIVES THROUGH INDEPENDENT AND GUIDED ACTIVITIES, AND IN SCIENCE THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE GUESSES, TEST HYPOTHESES, EXPERIMENT, AND EXPLORE THEIR DETAILED PROJECT WORK.THEY ARE MENTORS TO THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, EVEN READING TO THEM. THIS DISTINCTIVE POSITION IS A SOURCE OF TREMENDOUS PRIDE AND A FOUNDATION FOR SELF-ASSURANCE THAT WILL ACCOMPANY THEM TO THEIR NEXT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 1972.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.

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