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American Montessori Society Inc

EIN 06-0766308 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY ("AMS") PROVIDES THE LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES TO MAKE MONTESSORI A SIGNIFICANT AND ENDURING VOICE IN EDUCATION. AMS SERVES OUR MEMBERS, ADVOCATE FOR QUALITY MONTESSORI EDUCATION, AND CHAMPION MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
41
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$303,792, 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 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 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    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 (4)
  1. $1.6 million spent. THE AMS ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING TO THE MONTESSORI COMMUNITY. IN MARCH 2025, THE CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER NEARLY 4000 EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SCHOOL LEADERS FOR A DYNAMIC, MULTI-DAY EVENT. THE CONFERENCE OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF WORKSHOPS, INFOCUS SESSIONS, AND SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATIONS, ETC. COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD, INFANT AND TODDLER EDUCATION, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION,AND TEACHER EDUCATION. THE EVENT ALSO INCLUDED KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS FROM NOTABLE SPEAKERS.
  2. $706,524 spent. IN FY 2025, AMS MAINTAINED A BROAD NETWORK OF AMS -AFFILIATED TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTED ADULT LEARNERS FROM REGISTRATION THROUGH THEIR SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION AND CREDENTIALING.
  3. $704,187 spent. IN FY2025, AMS SUPPORTED BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND SCHOOL MEMBERS BY PROMOTING HIGH STANDARDS ACROSS ITS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED ACCESS TO VALUABLE MEMBER RESOURCES, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES, ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AN AWARD-WINNING PUBLICATION, AND A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
  4. $3.2 million spent. SCHOOL ACCREDITATION, PUBLICATIONS, RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIPS, PEACE ACTIVITIES, RETREATS, WEBINARS, ARCHIVES, CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

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 August 1964.

    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.