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Far Brook School

EIN 22-1487185 · Short Hills, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CREATE A SUPPORTIVE AND CARING COMMUNITY THAT CHERISHES LOVE OF LEARNING, CREATIVITY, AND INDIVIDUALITY, AND THAT PROVIDES TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH BOTH SUPPORT AND FREEDOM TO TAKE RISKS IN ORDER TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. A FAR BROOK EDUCATION TAKES PLACE IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF NATURAL BEAUTY AND INTIMACY, WHERE CHARACTER AND CITIZENSHIP ARE VALUED AS MUCH AS ACHIEVEMENT. IMPLICIT IN OUR PHILOSOPHY IS THE GOAL OF BRINGING STUDENTS TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL COMPETENCY, BOTH FOR THEIR PRESENT AND IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR FUTURE EDUCATION. IT IS OUR DESIRE TO TOUCH THE LIFE OF EVERY CHILD SO THAT HE OR SHE MAY LIVE LIFE WISELY AND WITH GREAT JOY.

Income
$18.7 million
Spending
$14.5 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 60%
Employees
169
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$511,945, 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: 71 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 90 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $10.4 million spent. FAR BROOK SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL LOCATED IN SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES ELEMENTARY EDUCATION FOR BOYS AND GIRLS IN NURSERY THROUGH GRADE EIGHT.OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION EMBRACES THE FOLLOWING TENETS OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION:1. THEME-BASED CURRICULUM: TEACHING THROUGH THEMES EMPHASIZES DEPTH OVER BREADTH, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO BECOME EXPERTS ON THAT TOPIC.2. HANDS-ON LEARNING: LEARNING IS EXPERIENTIAL AND ACTIVE. STUDENTS CONSTRUCT THEIR OWN KNOWLEDGE THROUGH MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES, GUIDED BY PASSIONATE EDUCATORS.3. AN APPRECIATION FOR NATURE: FAR BROOK'S UNIQUE WOODED CAMPUS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING WITHOUT WALLS. AT FAR BROOK, A BIRD'S NEST DISCOVERED IN A TREE BECOMES A SCIENCE LESSON; A SOUND HEARD IN OUR WETLANDS HABITAT BECOMES A POEM.4. COLLABORATION: COLLABORATION IS EMPHASIZED. STUDENTS LEARN TO WORK WITH OTHERS FROM DIVERSE GRADES, EXPERIENCES, LEARNING STYLES, AND THINKING, WHETHER SOLVING A PROBLEM IN ALGEBRA, ACTING ON STAGE, BUILDING A BENCH IN WOODSHOP, OR PASSING THE BALL ON THE SOCCER FIELD.5. LEARNING THROUGH THE ARTS: INTEGRATING THE ARTS WITH ACADEMICS, TECHNOLOGY, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF FAR BROOK'S PHILOSOPHY SINCE 1948. EXPERIENCED FACULTY SPARK CURIOSITY ABOUT OUR WORLD AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO EXAMINE COMPLEX QUESTIONS AND MAKE CONNECTIONS ACROSS DISCIPLINES.6. SOCIAL JUSTICE: A FAR BROOK EDUCATION TEACHES CHILDREN TO NOT ONLY BE EXCELLENT LEARNERS, BUT EXCELLENT PEOPLE. STUDENTS FIND THEIR VOICE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO BECOME CHANGEMAKERS, COMPASSIONATE LEADERS, AND ETHICAL CITIZENS.FAR BROOK'S IMPACT LASTS A LIFETIME.

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 October 1954.

    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.