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Milton Hershey School & School Trust

EIN 23-1353340 · Hershey, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceReports resultsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

Income
$1.3 billion
Spending
$381.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
54.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 100%
Employees
2,650
Volunteers
294
Highest pay
$2.1 million, board of managers

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 54.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 70% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 14 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 July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Reports results. Its tax return states measurable results. These are its own figures and nobody has checked them.

Results it reports

  • Students received 21,929 nurse/pediatrician visits.Work delivered
  • Students received 13,127 dental visits.Work delivered
  • Students received 54,791 dental procedures.Work delivered
  • Students received 1,535 vision exams.Work delivered
  • Students received 1,449 pairs of eyeglasses.Work delivered
  • 3,137 immunizations were administered to students.Work delivered
  • Students completed 1,149 career exposure experiences.Work delivered
  • Students completed 245 authentic work experiences including internships, co-ops, and pre-apprenticeships.Work delivered
  • The school served 2,157 students.Work delivered

Read from the return by an AI model and shown only where the wording was found in the return. These are the charity's own figures.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $275.4 million spent. PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING AND NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD-ACADEMICALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SOCIALLY. THANKS TO THE VISION AND GENEROSITY OF MILTON AND CATHERINE HERSHEY, EVERY ENROLLED STUDENT RECEIVES COMPREHENSIVE CARE AND OPPORTUNITY AT NO COST TO THEIR FAMILY. THIS INCLUDES: - HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION DELIVERED INSTATE-OF-THE-ARTCLASSROOMS WITH SMALL CLASS SIZES, ENSURING PERSONAL ATTENTION AND TAILORED INSTRUCTION. - THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, DENTAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE OF ALL STUDENTS. - NUTRITIOUS MEALS, CLOTHING, AND SAFE YEAR-ROUND HOUSING, CREATING CONSISTENCY AND STABILITY THAT ENABLE STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON LEARNING AND GROWTH. - ROBUST CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) OFFERINGS, COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSEWORK, ARTS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS, ATHLETICS, AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN AUTHENTIC WORK SETTINGS. MANY CHILDRENENROLLINGAT MHS COME FROM ENVIRONMENTS SHAPED BY POVERTY-RELATED STRESSORS. IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, NEW STUDENTS REPORTEDHIGH LEVELSOF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES), INCLUDING: - FORTY-FIVE PERCENT HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN THEIR FAMILY - THIRTY-SEVEN PERCENT EXPERIENCED FAMILY DRUG OR ALCOHOL ISSUES - THIRTY-THREE PERCENT HAD AN INCARCERATED FAMILY MEMBER - TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT WITNESSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - TWENTY-THREE PERCENT WHO ATTENDED THREE OR MORE SCHOOLS BEFORE ENROLLING - SEVENTEEN PERCENT EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS - FOURTEEN PERCENT WHO EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY THESE HARDSHIPS CANIMPACTLEARNING, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND STABILITY. AT MHS, STUDENTS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND A CONSISTENT, CARING ENVIRONMENT-FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS THAT HELP THEM BUILD RESILIENCE AND THRIVE. MHS CONTINUES TO SET A NATIONAL STANDARD FOR WHOLE CHILD CARE. DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM 21,929 NURSE/PEDIATRICIAN VISITS, 13,127 DENTAL VISITS AND 54,791 DENTAL PROCEDURES, 1,535 VISION EXAMS AND 1,449 PAIRS OF EYEGLASSES, AND 3,137 IMMUNIZATIONS ADMINISTERED. THIS LEVEL OF CARE REMOVES BARRIERS, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON ACADEMICS, EXTRACURRICULARS, AND HEALTHY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS ENGAGE IN AGE-APPROPRIATE CAREER EXPLORATION. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE PART IN INTERNSHIPS, CO-OPS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS, SUPPORTED BY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT & RESORTS, THE HERSHEY COMPANY, PENN STATE HEALTH, AND CATHERINE HERSHEY SCHOOLS FOR EARLY LEARNING. IN 2024-25, MHS STUDENTS COMPLETED1,149 CAREER EXPOSURE EXPERIENCESAND245 AUTHENTIC WORK EXPERIENCES (INCLUDING INTERNSHIPS, CO-OPS, AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS) STUDENTS CAN EXPLORE10 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION(CTE)PROGRAM AREASINCLUDINGBUT NOT LIMITED TOLAW,PUBLIC SAFETY,AND SECURITY,COMPUTERTECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTUREANDNATURAL RESOURCES, AND EDUCATIONANDHUMAN SERVICES. ------------------- THIS TUITION-FREE, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM, INCLUDING PHYSICAL CARE AS WELL AS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN ACADEMIC, HOME LIFE, AND COMMUNITY/CAREER SETTINGS, HAS AN ANNUAL COST OF: TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES: 275,394,785 LESS: LINE 22 DEPRECIATION (37,294,415) LINE 2 GRANTS (9,551,378) -------------- TOTAL EXPENSES 228,548,992 TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 2,157 GAAP COST PER STUDENT - TOTAL EXPENSES (PART IX LINE 25) $381,246,771 (TOTAL EXPENSES/2,157) = $176,749 TOTAL ANNUAL COST PER STUDENT- SCHOOL AND TRUST TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES LESS DEPRECIATION (PART IX LINE 22) AND CES GRANTS (PART IX LINE 2) $228,548,992 (TOTAL EXPENSES)/2,157 (TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS) = $105,957 MHS DIRECT COST PER STUDENT - SCHOOL ONLY FOR A PREMIER BOARDING SCHOOL SUCH AS MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL, THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF MORE THAN $105,000 PER STUDENT INCLUDES HOLISTIC CARE, EDUCATION RESOURCES, GRADUATE PROGRAMS, AND MORE. MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL ASSUMES THE COST FOR MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, DENTAL, ORTHODONTIC, SOCIAL WORK, AND PRESCRIPTION CARE FOR EACH STUDENT. COSTS AT MOST PRIVATE COLLEGES ALSO EXCEED THIS FIGURE. COLLEGES ALSO EXCEED THIS FIGURE. COLLEGES ALSO EXCEED THIS FIGURE. WORK, AND PRESCRIPTION CARE FOR EACH STUDENT. COSTS AT MOST PRIVATE COLLEGES ALSO EXCEED THIS FIGURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 July 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 February 1937.

    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.