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Heartwood Charter School

EIN 30-1200893 · Fairfax, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HEARTWOOD CHARTER SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE INDEPENDENT STUDY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH STUDENTS MAY CHOOSE A NUMBER OF PATHS INSPIRED BY THE WHOLE CHILD APPROACH OF PUBLIC WALDORF EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE OPTIONS OF SPENDING PART OF THEIR WEEK IN A GROUP INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT OR HOME STUDY WITH A STRONG CLASSIC PUBLIC WALDORF APPROACH, OR DESIGNING A MORE INDEPENDENT WHOLE CHILD, HOME STUDY OPTION.

Income
$9.9 million
Spending
$9.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 99%
Employees
72
Volunteers
36
Highest pay
$169,601, executive dir.

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 24% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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, 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. $9.1 million spent. HEARTWOOD CHARTER SCHOOL IS A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION WHOSE GOAL IS TO GRADUATE STUDENTS WHO ARE PROFICIENT IN ALL CORE SUBJECTS, WELL-PREPARED TO PURSUE FURTHER ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL GOALS, AND MOTIVATED TO MAKE POSITIVE, ETHICAL AND CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR WORLD.HEARTWOOD CHARTER PROVIDES A HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM OR A GROUP INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR GRADES K-12.

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 October 2021.

    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.