Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Benchmark School

EIN 23-1728895 · Media, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BENCHMARK SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO HELPING BRIGHT STUDENTS WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY, OR HAVE YET TO REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL, DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE, STRATEGIES, AND KNOWLEDGE TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS, THINKERS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVERS.

Income
$11.6 million
Spending
$10.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
123
Volunteers
97
Highest pay
$309,154, head of school, ex-officio

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: 89 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 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

    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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $8.2 million spent. FOLLOW-UP DATA OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS DEMONSTRATES THAT BENCHMARK GRADUATES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND LIFE. GRADUATES REPORT THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE BENCHMARK HELPED THEM UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES AS LEARNERS, APPROACH TASKS STRATEGICALLY, THINK FLEXIBLY, ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, AND TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN LEARNING. AT THE HEART OF BENCHMARK'S SUCCESS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHING STAFF COMPRISED OF KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THE SCHOOL. THIS COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL'S ENDURING DEDICATION TO INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.