Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cooke School and Institute

EIN 13-3396691 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 53 cents.

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

What it says it does

THE COOKE SCHOOL AND INSTITUTE ENVISIONS A WORLD IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE INCLUDED AS VALUED MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, LEADING INDEPENDENT AND PURPOSEFUL LIVES. TO REALIZE THIS VISION, OUR SCHOOL EDUCATES STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD.

Income
$39.6 million
Spending
$36.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
340
Volunteers
40
Highest pay
$383,896, 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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 53 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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

    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. $29.5 million spent. The Cooke School serves 321 students across two academic divisions-our K-12 program-and our Transitions Program for young adults ages 18-22. We provide individualized, differentiated special education instruction that promotes self-determination, independence, and long-term success. A deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to a Cooke education. Our program integrates rigorous academics with comprehensive therapeutic supports delivered by a multidisciplinary team of special education teachers, speech-language therapists, occupational and physical therapists, and school psychologists. Through this collaborative approach, students build the academic, social, and functional skills necessary to become active and valued members of their communities. In addition, students engage in a comprehensive adaptive skills training program that includes internship placements and community-based learning experiences, fostering vocational readiness and the development of essential life skills.
  2. $1.4 million spent. Cooke Institute (CI) furthers Cooke's mission principle by sharing its collective knowledge and commitment to improve the educational experience for all students, especially those with unique learning needs. through high-quality professional development for teachers and school leaders in literacy, special education, inclusion, and math, - ci partners include: public, parochial, and charter schools, early childhood programs, community-based organizations, cultural institutions, and business, so that all students have appropriate and equitable access to learning and improve outcomes. Annually, CI provides an average of 700 days of teacher and leadership coaching, serves an average of 170 classrooms through 40 coaching engagements in pre-k through 12th grade, impacting an estimated 6,000 students directly and indirectly, and offers almost 40 professional development sessions to professionals across NYS.

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 May 1993.

    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.