Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hotchkiss School

EIN 06-0647018 · Lakeville, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HOTCHKISS SCHOOL SEEKS TO INSPIRE A DIVERSE RANGE OF STUDENTS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE BETTERMENT OF SELF AND SOCIETY, AND TO CULTIVATE IN THEM AT THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE (IMAGINATION AND INTELLECT, OPENNESS AND PERSONAL INTEGRITY, EMPATHY AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP) THAT THEY MAY DISCOVER AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL AS INDIVIDUALS FULLY ENGAGED IN OUR WORLD.

Income
$126.4 million
Spending
$96.1 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
14.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 35%
Employees
519
Volunteers
1,023
Highest pay
$1.2 million, 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 33 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. $64.5 million spent. THE SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO MASTERY OF LEARNING SKILLS, DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, EXCELLENCE AND CREATIVITY IN ALL DISCIPLINES, AND ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS AND OTHER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. WE ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CLARITY OF THOUGHT, CONFIDENCE AND FACILITY IN EXPRESSING IDEAS, AND ARTISTIC AND AESTHETIC SENSITIVITY. WE EXPECT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, TO SUBJECT THEIR VIEWS AND ACTIONS TO CRITICAL EXAMINATION AND TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. WE HOPE THAT OUR GRADUATES WILL LEAVE HOTCHKISS WITH A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE TO OTHERS AND TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND WITH A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES AND OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY. THE ENROLLMENT FOR THE TAX YEAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 611 STUDENTS.

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 January 1925.

    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.