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School of Living

EIN 31-6050408 · Julian, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthNot ratedToo small or too little detailGovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

School of Living is an educational organization that explores solutions to the challenges of living, holds land in trust for present and future generations, promotes personal empowerment, and supports the development of just and sustainable communities.

Income
$50,542
Spending
$27,708
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
0
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$3,385, assistant treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $13,359 spent. In 2025 the Heathcote Care Farm and Education Center (HEC) offered 11 educational events serving a total of 72 participants. HEC's main educational program was a series of 7 Community Days attended by 30 people featuring hands-on learning projects, a potluck, a community tour, and a visit to the Black Locust Hops Farm Brewery next door to Heathcote. HEC hosted 1 Rain Barrel workshop facilitated by the Gunpowder Valley Conservancy for 6 participants and a tour of the property for 7 farmers who had attended the BIPOC Farmer's Conference. In addition, HEC was a co-sponsor with the Chesapeake Education Arts and Research Society (CHEARS) of a North American Analog Forestry Certification course and internship program facilitated by the International Analog Forestry Network (IAFN.) It consisted of 8 online classes and an internship for hands-on experience at one of four analog forestry host sites for 21 participants. Three participants did their internship at Heathcote. The second annual Honoring of the Land Ceremony took place on Sept. 22, 2025, facilitated by the Spiritual Center for Indigenous Living, and was attended by 8 participants.
  2. $6,254 spent. School of Living's Community Land Trust (CLT) involves 6 parcels of land in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Each parcel supports a residential community that involves a living and learning center, demonstrating and teaching cooperative community living, ecology and conservation, sustainable development, and natural living. In 2025, we continued to work on developing a new lease for our Amherst County, Virginia parcel. Our intention has been to lease this parcel to Stellar Roots, a collective of Black, Brown, and Indigenous People, rooted in healing and in service of land based community living. We also followed up on supporting our other parcels in the Land Trust; helping to solve disputes among parties and updating legal documents. Another focus of School of Living's CLT is public outreach and follow-up with outside inquiries to our CLT.
  3. $800 spent. In 2025, School of Living's Administration Committee supported our public education projects by registering with the charitable solicitation agencies of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. These registrations were mandated steps in allowing our projects to solicit funds from citizens and apply for corporate and governmental grants to support their work.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 October 13, 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? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    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 October 1959.

    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 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.