Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Spruce Street Nursery School

EIN 04-3326852 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 1996, SPRUCE STREET NURSERY SCHOOL WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FOSTERS CREATIVE THINKING, WHILE OFFERING FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE IN EARLY LEARNING. TEACHING COMPASSION AND RESPECT THROUGH LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING IS A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF OUR EDUCATIONAL APPROACH. THROUGH HONORING OTHERS' IDEAS, CHILDREN COME TO REALIZE HOW VALUABLE THEIR OWN IDEAS ARE. CHILDREN AT SPRUCE STREET DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE OF THEMSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS AND LEARNERS, WHILE GROWING TO APPRECIATE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AS MEMBERS OF A LARGER COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
15.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
22
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$282,528, director/transition dir.7/1-12/31/24

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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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

    9 of 10 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. SPRUCE STREET NURSERY SCHOOL PROVIDES A JOYOUS EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN 24 MONTHS THROUGH 5 YEARS, AND ACCOMMODATES APPROXIMATLEY 50 CHILDREN AT ANY GIVEN TIME IN 4 SEPARATE CLASSES. BY MAINTAINING A TEACHER TO CHILD RATIO OF 1 TO 4.5 THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL, A NURTURING NURSERY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE EACH CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT IS GIVEN THOUGHTFUL ATTENTION.FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE, THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A MONDAY - FRIDAY NURSERY SCHOOL CURRICULUM FROM 8:30 AM TO 1:00 PM, WITH EARLY DROP OFF AND EXTENDED DAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE. A MODIFIED CURRICULUM IS AVAILABLE IN JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST THROUGH THE SCHOOL'S "SUMMER CAMP".

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 October 13, 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 June 2000.

    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 October 21, 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.