Nichols School of Buffalo
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR AIM IS TO TRAIN MINDS, BODIES AND HEARTS FOR THE WORK OF LIFE AND TO CARRY INTO ALL WE DO THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF CHARACTER AND SERVICE.
- Income
- $25.7 million
- Spending
- $22.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 67%
- Employees
- 244
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $475,778, 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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 41 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 2522 of 22 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 (4)
- $8.9 million spent. EDUCATION/FACULTY - NICHOLS SCHOOL'S EXCELLENCE BEGINS WITH ITS FACULTY. WE SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE SCHOOL'S RESOURCES TO ENSURE WE RECRUIT, HIRE AND RETAIN THE HIGHEST QUALIFIED FACULTY. WE ALSO BELIEVE IN ON-GOING TRAINING FOR OUR FACULTY BY INVESTING IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THIS ENHANCES THEIR TEACHING ABILITIES AND RENEWS THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR FIELD. THIS ESTABLISHES THE SCHOOL AS A LEADER IN QUALITY EDUCATION WHICH ATTRACTS THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST STUDENTS NOT ONLY IN THE WNY AREA, BUT FROM AROUND THE WORLD. WE HAVE SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.
- $4.8 million spent. FINANCIAL AID - NICHOLS SCHOOL PROVIDES FINANCIAL AID TO 53% OF ITS STUDENTS. THIS ENSURES DIVERSITY WITHIN THE STUDENT BODY AND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY OF A PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION TO THOSE WHO OTHERWISE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ENDOWMENT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN OUR ENROLLMENT WHILE MAINTAINING OUR GOAL FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF FINANCIAL AID DOLLARS AVAILABLE AND THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING THOSE DOLLARS. THIS PROCESS IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING A DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATION INTO THE FUTURE.
- $413,947 spent. FACILITIES - THE CAMPUS CONSISTS OF SIX SEPARATE BUILDINGS LINKED BY TREE LINED SIDEWALKS ON 30 ACRES OF CITY PROPERTY. THIS INCLUDES A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AND AN ICE RINK. BY PROVIDING WELL MAINTAINED AND VARIED ACADEMIC, ARTS AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES, IT DEMONSTRATES THE SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO THE FACULTY, COACHES AND STUDENTS.
- $4.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE STUDENT SERVICES, ATHLETICS AND OTHER ACADEMIC EXPENSES AS DETAILED ON FORM 990 PART IX.
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 August 1950.
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.