Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

New Roots Charter School

EIN 26-4183302 · Ithaca, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEW ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL PREPARES OUR DIVERSE STUDENT BODY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF CITIZENSHIP, WORK, AND LIFE-LONG LEARNING IN THE 21ST CENTURY. OUR INTERDISCIPLINARY ACADEMIC PROGRAM FEATURES HANDS-ON, COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING THAT SUPPORTS STUDENTS IN SOLVING REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS. NEW ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN A REGENTS DIPLOMA AND DEMONSTRATE READINESS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT AND CREATING A GRADUATION PORTFOLIO THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THEY HAVE MET OR EXCEEDED ALL 28 NEW YORK STATE LEARNING STANDARDS. OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY CREATES A MODEL OF SECONDARY EDUCATION THAT INTEGRATES BEST PRACTICES IN SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION WITH THOSE PROVEN TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
52
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$128,005, principal

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. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 57% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (2)
  1. $1.9 million spent. REGULAR AND SPECIAL EDUCATION - NEW ROOTS IS AN INNOVATIVE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION. ITS INTERDISCIPLINARY ACADEMIC CURRICULUM WILL FEATURE HANDS-ON, COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING TO HELP STUDENTS SOLVE REAL WORLD PROBLEMS.
  2. $179,567 spent. FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM - THE FARM TO SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM INTEGRATES THE STUDY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND HANDS-ON APPLICATIONS AT LOCAL FARMS WITH THE SCHOOL'S COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING CURRICULUM.

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 March 2001.

    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.