Northeast Kingdom Learning Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NEKLS OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION, WORKPLACE SKILLS, OR ATTAIN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/EQUIVALENCY. IN ADDITION, NEKLS PROVIDES EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
- Income
- $3.1 million
- Spending
- $3.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -0.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 80
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $97,978, executive director
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
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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)
- $2.7 million spent. NORTHEAST KINGDOM LEARNING SERVICES, INC. (NEKLS) WAS FOUNDED IN THE MID-1960S BY EVA WARNER, WHO BEGAN BY TEACHING ADULTS TO READ AT THEIR KITCHEN TABLES. OVER THE PAST 65 YEARS, NEKLS HAS EXPANDED ITS SERVICES TO PROVIDE ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PATHWAYS TO EARNING A GED OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING, AND THE STEP UP TO WORKFORCE PRE-TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE EQUIPS ADULTS IN VERMONT'S NORTHEAST KINGDOM WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS IN HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES.IN ADDITION TO ADULT EDUCATION, NEKLS SUPPORTS K-12 STUDENTS THROUGH A TUTORIAL PROGRAM THAT COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO ENHANCE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OPERATES A 5-STAR-RATED CHILD CARE CENTER IN NEWPORT, VT, SERVING OVER 85 CHILDREN FROM SIX WEEKS TO TWELVE YEARS OLD WITH HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.GUIDED BY ITS MISSION TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER LEARNERS FROM BIRTH AND BEYOND, NEKLS ENVISIONS A COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THE ORGANIZATION UPHOLDS CORE VALUES CENTERED ON FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS, CELEBRATING GROWTH, MAINTAINING TRANSPARENCY, ADVOCATING WITH PASSION, EMBRACING CHANGE, AND MODELING HUMILITY AND KINDNESS. NEKLS REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE FOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.