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Friends Academy

EIN 11-1633485 · Locust Valley, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.

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

What it says it does

GUIDED BY OUR QUAKER PRINCIPLES, FRIENDS ACADEMY EDUCATES OUR STUDENTS TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP THE BEST OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHO THEY CAN BECOME. WE ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE BY COMMITTING TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LEARNING AND LIVING. OUR DIVERSE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY IS STRENGTHENED BY OUR QUAKER VALUES, WHICH EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS TO INQUIRE, REFLECT, AND ENGAGE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND IN THE WORLD. BECAUSE WHEN WE INSPIRE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND LIVE WITH PURPOSE, THEY ACHIEVE GREATNESS WITHOUT SACRIFICING GOODNESS.

Income
$35.1 million
Spending
$38.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
16.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 86%
Employees
0
Volunteers
215
Highest pay
$797,439, 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 68 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 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (2)
  1. $31.1 million spent. INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES - ACADEMICS: AS A QUAKER SCHOOL, FRIENDS ENDORSES THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE WORTH AND ABILITY, AND OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR EACH STUDENT TO FIND HIS OR HER OWN VOICE AND ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE. CHARACTER EDUCATION: A CENTER PIECE OF OUR PROGRAM IS COMMUNITY SERVICE, ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL QUAKER TESTIMONIES. WE OFFER AGE APPROPRIATE SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS AS WE TEACH THEM THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. COLLEGE PREPARATION: WE ARE COMMITTED TO PREPARING STUDENTS NOT ONLY FOR COLLEGE, BUT ALSO FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP. TO THAT END, BEYOND COMMUNITY SERVICE, WE NURTURE LEADERSHIP, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY. FRIENDS ACADEMY SERVED 650 STUDENTS DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR.
  2. $500,044 spent. SUMMER PROGRAM: FRIENDS ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE BELIEF IN THE UNIQUE WORTH OF EVERY CHILD. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE DEVELOPING EACH CAMPER'S SELF-CONFIDENCE AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE BY PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN HAVE FUN, MAKE FRIENDS, AND LEARN IN A SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, IMPLEMENTING AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM OF FUN AND EXCITING ACTIVITIES THAT PROVIDE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAMPERS TO LEARN, SUCCEED, AND DEVELOP CONFIDENCE. THE SUMMER CAMP CONSISTS OF OVER 30 DIVERSE PROGRAMS (SPORTS, ARTS, SCIENCE, COMPUTERS, ACADEMIC AND TRAVEL) FOR AGES 3-15 YRS.

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 1934.

    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.