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Berkshire Montessori School Inc

EIN 26-2067833 · Lenox Dale, MA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO WORK IN THE TRADITION OF DR. MARIA MONTESSORI TO INSPIRE CHILDREN TO DEVELOP INDEPENDENT THINKING, SELF-ASSURANCE, INNER DISCIPLINE, AND A LOVE OF LEARNING IN AN AUTHENTIC MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
54
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$122,013, director of education / secretary

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    4 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 2023, 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. $2.9 million spent. IN 2006, TODD COVERT AND MEAGAN LEDENDECKER OPENED THE DOORS TO A SMALL MONTESSORI CLASSROOM IN THE BERKSHIRES. WITH JUST 24 STUDENTS AGES 3 TO 6, THEY HAD A BOLD VISION: TO CREATE A SCHOOL ROOTED IN MONTESSORI VALUES WHERE CHILDREN COULD GROW WITH CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM. FROM THAT MODEST BEGINNING, THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF THE BERKSHIRES (MSB) BEGAN TO GROW. WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THE ORIGINAL SPACE COULD NO LONGER HOLD THE EXPANDING COMMUNITY. IN 2010, MSB MOVED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION: A CUSTOM-DESIGNED, ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDING NESTLED ON 40 ACRES OF BERKSHIRE WOODLAND. THE SCHOOL CONTINUED TO EVOLVE, EXPANDING IN 2017 TO ACCOMMODATE GROWING ENROLLMENT AND SUPPORT A FULLY INTEGRATED MONTESSORI PROGRAM WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. ALONG THE WAY, MSB ENRICHED ITS CAMPUS AND PROGRAMMING TO ALIGN WITH ITS EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY-ADDING A GREENHOUSE, UPGRADED PLAYGROUNDS, A CHICKEN COOP, AN APIARY, AND A MAPLE SUGARING OPERATION. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FURTHER DEEPENED THIS CONNECTION, ENHANCING OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES AND COURTYARDS, MAINTAINING A NETWORK OF TRAILS THAT EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES, AND CULTIVATING A POLLINATOR FIELD. PLANNING OUR FUTURE - PROTECTING OUR LEGACY TODAY, MSB SERVES 120 STUDENTS FROM TODDLER THROUGH 8TH GRADE, OFFERING A RICH AND INTENTIONAL EDUCATION THAT PREPARES CHILDREN NOT ONLY FOR THEIR NEXT ACADEMIC STEPS, BUT FOR LIFE ITSELF. OUR MISSION IS MORE THAN WORDS; IT LIVES IN EVERY CLASSROOM, EVERY CONVERSATION, AND EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE. WE NURTURE CHILDREN'S NATURAL CURIOSITY AND LOVE OF LEARNING THROUGH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTS, COMPASSIONATE EDUCATORS, AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES. THROUGH THIS FOUNDATION, OUR STUDENTS GROW INTO INDEPENDENT THINKERS, SELF-ASSURED INDIVIDUALS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE ARE GUIDED BY A VISION OF: A BETTER WORLD: ONE BUILT ON LOVE,ACCEPTANCE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND PURPOSE. THE CHILD: REFLECTIVE, CAPABLE, MOTIVATED LEARNERS WHO RESPECT THEMSELVES, OTHERS,AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE TEACHER: PASSIONATE GUIDES WHO MODEL LIFELONG LEARNING AND PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION. THE PARENT/CAREGIVER: TRUSTED PARTNERS WHO FOSTER INDEPENDENCE AND ENGAGE MEANINGFULLY IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: THOUGHTFUL, COMMUNICATIVE LEADERS WHO PRIORITIZE WELL-BEING THROUGH REFLECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2023, 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 November 6, 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? Caution.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2023. Organizations that miss three years of returns lose their exemption.

    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 March 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.