Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ecole Francaise Internationale De Philadelphie

EIN 23-2633105 · Bala Cynwyd, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak43 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ECOLE FRANCAISE INTERNATIONALE DE PHILADELPHIE, ALSO KNOWN AS EFIP OR FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA, IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SERVING A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND OFFERING A DUAL CURRICULUM IN FRENCH AND IN ENGLISH, ACCREDITED BY THE MIDDLE STATES ASSOCIATION AND THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. OUR STUDENTS BECOME FLUENT IN BOTH LANGUAGES, COMPETENT IN ALL ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, GROW AS CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, AND GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION FOR OTHER CULTURES.

Income
$10.9 million
Spending
$11.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-12.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
93
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$331,979, 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

Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 72% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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. $9.2 million spent. THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA, ALSO KNOWN AS ECOLE FRANCAISE INTERNATIONALE DE PHILADELPHIE (EFIP), OFFERS A STRONG ACADEMIC CURRICULUM IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH FOR STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 IN RENTED SPACE WITH JUST EIGHT STUDENTS. EVENTUALLY, AS THE SCHOOL STEADILY GREW, IT WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE TWO SEPARATE FACILITIES IN BALA CYNWYD - A LOWER SCHOOL IN 1997 AND AN UPPER SCHOOL IN 2006. TODAY THERE ARE 320 STUDENTS ENROLLED, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 45 DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT SPEAK FRENCH CAN ENTER AT AGE 3, 4, OR 5. THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ATTRACTS EQUAL NUMBERS OF FRENCH, AMERICAN, AND INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES WHO WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE A TOP QUALITY ACADEMIC EDUCATION WHILE GAINING THE ADDED BENEFIT OF BECOMING BILINGUAL AND EXPERIENCING OTHER CULTURES. THE SCHOOL OFFERS A BALANCED PROGRAM THAT CAPITALIZES ON THE STRENGTHS OF BOTH THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS. ITS STUDENTS SUCCEED IN DEVELOPING THEIR BILINGUAL ABILITIES BECAUSE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND ACADEMIC LEARNING ARE OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. THE FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL. IT IS FULLY ACCREDITED BY BOTH THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL GOVERNING AGENCIES. ITS GRADUATES ATTEND THE TOP PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA AND THEIR EQUIVALENTS ABROAD.

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 May 1992.

    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.