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Stephen Gaynor School

EIN 13-1969570 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT STEPHEN GAYNOR SCHOOL, STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES DEVELOP ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED AND EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES, EMPOWERING THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. STUDENTS LEARN TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS WHILE ACTIVELY BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, A SENSE OF BELONGING, AND A BELIEF IN THEIR OWN POSSIBILITIES.

Income
$40.1 million
Spending
$34.4 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
13.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
235
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$1.1 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 84% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (2)
  1. $27.5 million spent. ACADEMIC PROGRAM: WITH OVER 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND A DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, GAYNOR HAS THE EXPERTISE TO HELP CHILDREN BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO LEARNING, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, AND REALIZE ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
  2. $152,343 spent. SUMMER PROGRAM: GAYNOR'S SUMMER CAMP IS DESIGNED AND RUN BY OUR TEAM OF SPECIAL EDUCATORS, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. THIS SIX WEEK PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF ADVOCACY, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, AND SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE/LEARNING SKILLS. OUR THERAPISTS JOIN TEACHERS TO HELP DEVELOP STUDENTS' SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF FUN ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GROUP GAMES, COOKING, ARTS AND CRAFTS, AND TRIPS TO THE PLAYGROUND. READING SKILLS ARE ALSO REINFORCED THROUGH SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. OUR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM OFFERS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO MAINAIN THEIR LEARNING AND SOCIAL SKILLS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LIGHT ACADEMIC CURRICULUM AND FUN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. GAYNOR FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS CREATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED SCHEDULE FOR EACH STUDENT.

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 December 1963.

    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.

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