Beacon Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
BEACON ACADEMY FOSTERS A RESULTS-DRIVEN COMMUNITY SUPPORTED BY FAMILY INVOLVEMENT. OUR SCHOOL IS ROOTED IN A CULTURE OF POSITIVE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A PROVEN, RIGOROUS, AND CONTENT-RICH CURRICULUM.
- Income
- $9.0 million
- Spending
- $8.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 107
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $113,712, principal
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: 40 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 135% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 253 of 7 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)
- $7.5 million spent. BEACON ACADEMY IS A SMALL, CARING SCHOOL ENHANCING CHILDREN'S EAGERNESS TO LEARN THROUGH A CHALLENGING, CONTENT-RICH CURRICULUM, DAILY SPANISH EXPERIENCES BEGINNING IN KINDERGARTEN, POSITIVE CHARACTER-BUILDING PROJECTS, AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT. TEACHERS ADDRESS CHILDREN'S INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND NEEDS THROUGH A VARIETY OF TEACHING STYLES AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES. STAFF AND STUDENTS THRIVE AND GROW AT BEACON ACADEMY THROUGH AN EXCITING, RESEARCH-BASED CURRICULUM AND A SUPPORTIVE, CARING CLIMATE. CHILDREN BUILD SECOND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY WHILE MASTERING ENGLISH, READING, MATH, HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, AND SCIENCE AT THEIR LEVEL. MUSIC AND ARTS EXPERIENCES STIMULATE CREATIVITY AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES KEEP BOTH BODIES AND MINDS ACTIVE AND HEALTHY. BEACON ACADEMY OPENED IN THE FALL OF 2005 WITH GRADES K3. WE HAVE THREE CLASSES PER GRADE COVERING K-8. ENROLLMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 518 STUDENTS, AND WE ARE LOCATED AT 3415 LOUISIANA AVE N, CRYSTAL, MN, 55427. WHAT MAKES BEACON ACADEMY DIFFERENT FROM MOST OTHER SCHOOLS IS THE INCLUSION OF COMPREHENSIVE SPANISH INSTRUCTION AT EACH GRADE LEVEL. SPANISH IS USED DAILY TO ENRICH SPECIFIC LESSONS IN MANY CLASSROOMS. BEACON ACADEMY IS NOT AN IMMERSION SCHOOL BUT A FLES-LANGUAGE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES DAILY INSTRUCTION IN SPANISH ALONG WITH SUPPLEMENTAL SPANISH INSTRUCTION IN OTHER CURRICULA AREAS.
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 November 6, 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 September 2004.
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 November 4, 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.