Fred S Keller School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE FRED S. KELLER SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1986 AS A MODEL SCHOOL BASED UPON THE COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION OF BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS TO SCHOOLING, OR CABAS MODEL (GREER 1991). THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY IS ONE THAT APPLIES THE SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR TO ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOLING. THE SCHOOL IS NAMED IN HONOR OF DR. FRED S. KELLER, THE FOUNDER OF MODERN REINFORCEMENT THEORY AND A DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR WHO HAS LED IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR TO REFORM EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE. THE SCHOOL IS DIRECTED BY BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SUPERVISORS, TRAINED IN SPECIAL, AS WELL AS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, EARLY EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EI COORDINATOR, PARENT EDUCATOR AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR ALL HOLD CABAS BOARD CERTIFICATIONS AS WELL AS MASTER TEACHERS AND BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS SUPERVISORS. THE FRED S. KELLER SCHOOL IS CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, TEACHERS COLLEGE. DR. R. DOUGLAS GREER, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY AT TEACHERS COLLEGE, IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF
- Income
- $17.1 million
- Spending
- $17.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 231
- Highest pay
- $484,022, executive di
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: 39 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 78% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $14.9 million spent. THE FRED S. KELLER SCHOOL IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PRIVATE PRESCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES. THE SCHOOL SERVES CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH THEIR TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN. THE SCHOOL OPERATES FROM 2 CAMPUSES IN WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES. THE SCHOOL EMPLOYS AN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC METHODOLOGY WHICH IS A DATA BASED, EMPIRICALLY TESTED MODEL.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.