Montessori Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MONTESSORI APPROACH TO EDUCATION INTEGRATES THE WORK OF THE HEAD, HAND, AND HEART; INTRODUCING STUDENTS NOT ONLY TO THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO TO THE CONNECTIONS ACROSS DISCIPLINES, AND IN THE END, TO THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE TO THEIR LIVES WITHIN THEIR HOMES, SCHOOLS, WORK AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. GUIDED BY SELF-DISCOVERY AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT, STUDENTS AT THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ENGLEWOOD EXPRESS THE INTEGRATION OF THE THREE H'S THROUGH EXERCISING CORE STRENGTHS LIKE CURIOSITY, SELF-CONTROL, PERSISTENCE AND OPTIMISM.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 94%
- Employees
- 105
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $164,785, executive director
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: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 140% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $7.1 million spent. THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ENGLEWOOD IS A CHICAGO PUBLIC CHARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT OPENED IN AUGUST 2012 AND HAS SINCE GROWN TO INCLUDE STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. LOCATED IN THE WEST ENGLEWOOD COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOL SERVED EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENTS AND CHARTER STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE. THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF ENGLEWOOD OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE CURRICULAR APPROACH TO SERVE THE DIVERSE ETHNIC, SOCIOECONOMIC, LANGUAGE, AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS OF STUDENTS FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY OF MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF OUR DIVERSITY IS VIA A PROVEN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM, COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SMALL STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC EDUCATION OF THE HEAD, HEART, AND HAND.
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
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.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Worth knowing.
Status was revoked on December 15, 2012 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2013.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.