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School for Field Studies Inc

EIN 04-2711596 · West Boxford, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SFS CREATES TRANSFORMATIVE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES THROUGH FIELD-BASED LEARNING AND RESEARCH. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS EXPLORE THE HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS FACED BY OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, CONTRIBUTING TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN THE PLACES WHERE WE LIVE AND WORK. THE SFS COMMUNITY IS PART OF A GROWING NETWORK OF INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS COMMITTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. TO PROVIDE CREDITED COLLEGE COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS.

Income
$17.1 million
Spending
$16.3 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
59
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$232,579, president & secretary

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

Fair: 54 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 66% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 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)
  1. $14.1 million spent. SFS PROVIDES RIGOROUS ACCREDITED COLLEGE SEMESTER STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FIELD RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR ALMOST 700 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT ITS TEN STUDY AND RESEARCH CENTERS IN AUSTRALIA, BHUTAN, CAMBODIA, CHILE (PATAGONIA), COSTA RICA, ROATIA, KENYA, ITALY, PANAMA, PERU, TANZANIA AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.

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

  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 August 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 April 1981.

    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.