Friends of the Bklyn New School- Bklyn School for Collab Studies
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRIENDS OF BNS/BCS IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT OF TWO NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS: BROOKLYN NEW SCHOOL -BNS (GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 5); BROOKLYN SCHOOL FOR COLLABORATIVE STUDIES -BCS (GRADES 6 THROUGH 8) AND THEIR OPT(ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS)
- Income
- $213,505
- Spending
- $154,028
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 27.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 80%
- Employees
- 0
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
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 27.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Weak: 41 out of 100.
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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)
- $144,583 spent. FRIENDS OF THE BROOKLYN NEW SCHOOL/BROOKLYN SCHOOL FOR COLLABORATIVE STUDIES (FRIENDS) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT RAISES FUNDS TO HELP THESE ALTERNATIVE SISTER SCHOOLS MAINTAIN AND EXPAND CURRENT PROGRAMMING FOR ART, MUSIC, APPLIED LEARNING IN THE HUMANITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, AND OTHER INNOVATIVE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, FRIENDS PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING ITSELF TO MAKE IT A MORE EFFECTIVE LEARNING SPACE. NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNDING IS INADEQUATE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE 900+ STUDENTS SERVED BY THE TWO SCHOOLS. BOTH SCHOOLS ARE ECONOMICALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND HAVE A STRONG ONGOING COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY.PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES FUNDED VIA FRIENDS INCLUDE:TEACHING ARTISTS: THROUGH FUNDS OBTAINED BY FRIENDS, A TEACHING ARTIST WAS RETAINED TO PROVIDE MUSIC AND MOVEMENT INSTRUCTION TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE BROOKLYN ARTS EXCHANGE (BAX). EVERY BNS CLASS K-5 MEETS WITH A BAX TEACHING ARTIST FOR 14-28 WEEKS AT DIFFERENT STARTING AND ENDING POINTS OVER THE COURSE OF A FULL YEAR. THEY WORK WITH ONE OF TWO BAX TEACHING ARTISTS DONNA COSTELLO AND JOSE GARCIA. CLASSES MEET 1X PER WEEK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 4TH GRADE THAT MEETS FOR DOUBLE SESSIONS OR 2X PER WEEK WHEN PREPARING FOR THE 4TH GRADE MUSICAL, THE EQUIVALENT OF 8 EXTRA SESSIONSENVIRONMENTAL TRIPS: THE THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OVERNIGHT CAMPING TRIPS AT Y CAMPS. THESE CAMPS INCLUDE FROST VALLEY YMCA, THE ASHOKAN CENTER, INC AND CAMP SPEERS -ELJABAR YMCA. THESE CAMPS HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS, AND PROVIDE HANDS-ON ENRICHMENT TO THE SCIENCE CURRICULUM. IN ADDITION, FOR MANY STUDENTS, THIS TRIP IS A FIRST EXPERIENCE IN A NON-URBAN OUTDOOR SETTING. MONIES RAISED ENSURE ALL STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THESE TRIPS, REGARDLESS OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES' ABILITY TO PAY.ARTS ENRICHMENT: FUNDS RECEIVED WERE USED TO SUPPORT ARTS PROGRAMMING AT KENTLER GALLERIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. BEGUN IN 2004, THE K.I.D.S. ART EDUCATION PROGRAM BRINGS CLASSES TO KENTLER INTERNATIONAL DRAWING SPACE FOR A 90-MINUTE ART APPRECIATION AND HANDS-ON ART MAKING EXPERIENCE RELATING TO KENTLER'S CURRENT EXHIBITION. TWO ART EDUCATORS LEAD THE CLASS VISITS THAT HELP DEVELOP THE STUDENTS ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART AND ENCOURAGE CRITICAL AND INDEPENDENT THINKING ABOUT VISUAL CULTURE. THE GALLERY VISIT ALONG WITH THE IN-SCHOOL POST-VISIT PER CLASS SERVES TO BRIDGE THE GALLERY EXPERIENCE WITH THE CLASSROOM.OTHER CURRICULAR EXPENSES: FUNDS VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES INCLUDING: EXPENDITURES RELATED TO SCIENCE TRIPS AND CURRICULUM; 23 WEEKS OF K-5 SPANISH ENRICHMENT CLASSES; A 40 WEEK SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPART SUSTAINABLE LIVING THROUGH STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN: GRADING, RECYCLING, COMPOSTING, HEALTHY COOKING AND EATING, EXPLORING NATURE, DESIGNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM, THE SCHOOL LIBRARY, A FOURTH GRADE SAILING TRIP ON THE HUDSON RIVER SLOOP CLEARWATER; AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADDED VALUE FARM STUDY COMPRISED OF TRIPS TO THE RED HOOK COMMUNITY FARM WHERE THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES: LIFE CYCLES, SEQUENCING, COMMUNITY INTERDEPENDENCE, LIVING CREATURES, AND WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM.PARENTAL, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION & COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION: FRIENDS SUPPORTS THE PROVISION OF MATERIALS, PRINTING, AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS OF VARIOUS PRINTED MATERIALS SUCH AS BACK-PACK MAIL, POSTERS, NOTICES, ETC THAT FACILIATE COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL, AND HELP ESTABLISH A COMMON FRAMEWORK FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN FAMILIES, TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION. EXPENSES INCLUDE COPY PAPER, COPY MACHINE REPAIR, INK JET CARTIDGES, PENS, PENCILS, SUPPLEMENTAL SCHOOL RELATED AND OTHER SCHOOLS SUPPLIES. ALSO FUNDS FOOD AND OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO PARENTS AS LEARNING PARTNERS WORKSHOP AND GRADUATION CEREMONIES.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/TEACHER STIPENDS: DIRECTLY FUNDS THE PURCHASE OF CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND FIELD TRIP EXPENSES OR FUNDS TEACHERS REIMBURSEMENTS FOR SAID EXPENDITURES. FRIENDS ALSO FUNDS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, ETC.FUNDRAISING: EVERY YEAR FRIENDS ORGANIZES AND CARRIES OUT TWO MAJOR FUNDRAISERS. THE FALL FUNDRAISER, APPLE-FEST, IS A DAYTIME FAMILY CELEBRATION OF THE FALL HARVEST AND INCLUDES FOOD AND DRINK SALES, BOOK SALES, A BIKE SALE, ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITES, GAMES, AND OTHER VENDOR ITEMS. THE SPRING FUNDRAISER, EAT, DRINK, DANCE, SHOP IS AN ADULTS ONLY NIGHT OUT INCLUDING AN ONLINE AND LIVE AUCTION, DINNER AND DANCING. BOTH FUNDRAISERS SPLIT COSTS AND PROFITS EVENLY BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS.
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 September 7, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.