Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Independent Day School Incorporated

EIN 06-6012653 · Middlefield, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak24 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.

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

What it says it does

BY KNOWING STUDENTS DEEPLY BOTH AS INDIVIDUALS AND LEARNERS, IDS INSPIRES A COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT THINKERS WHO ARE RESILIENT AND CONFIDENT TO TAKE RISKS AS THEY CONNECT WITH OTHERS IN THE JOYFUL PURSUIT OF LEARNING.THE INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL PRIVATE PRE-SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED ON ROLLING HILLS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF MIDDLEFIELD ON 33 ACRES. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1961, FAMILIES OF DIVERSE RACIAL, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS HAVE COME FROM 30 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING CHESHIRE, CROMWELL, DURHAM, GLASTONBURY, GUILFORD, HADDAM, MIDDLEFIELD, MIDDLETOWN, PORTLAND, ROCKY HILL, AND WALLINGFORD, TO EXPERIENCE A CHALLENGING CURRICULUM IN A WARM, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
-4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
56
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$200,531, 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

Weak: 24 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 60% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 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

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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. $3.2 million spent. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION - THE INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1961. IT IS LOCATED ON 33 ACRES NEXT TO THE LAUREL BROOK RESERVOIR IN MIDDLEFIELD, CT. THE SCHOOL IS A COEDUCATIONAL NON-SECTARIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF APPROXIMATELY 130 BOYS AND GIRLS FROM AGE THREE THROUGH GRADE EIGHT.

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 November 1962.

    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.

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.