Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walden School

EIN 35-2374612 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak38 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE WALDEN SCHOOL INSPIRES ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND PERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL MUSIC PROGRAMS.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
2.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
40
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$100,000, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 23% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 September 30, 2024, 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 (4)
  1. $748,112 spent. THE WALDEN SCHOOL YOUNG MUSICIANS PROGRAM PROVIDES AN UNPARALLELED CREATIVE SUMMER EXPERIENCE FOR MUSICALLY INCLINED STUDENTS AGES 9 TO 19. PART SCHOOL, PART CAMP, AND PART FESTIVAL, THE PROGRAM CONVENES EACH SUMMER FOR FIVE WEEKS IN DUBLIN, NH. THROUGH RIGOROUS AND INNOVATIVE DAILY INSTRUCTION, STUDENTS HONE THEIR MUSICAL AND CREATIVE SKILLS WITHIN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED PEERS AND MENTORS.
  2. $177,758 spent. THE WALDEN SCHOOL CREATIVE MUSICIANS RETREAT (CMR) OFFERS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WELL-ROUNDED MUSICIANS (AGES 18+). AT THE CREATIVE MUSICIANS RETREAT (CMR), PARTICIPANTS TAKE CLASSES (INCLUDING COURSES IN THE WALDEN SCHOOLS MUSICIANSHIP COURSE), SING IN THE CHORUS, WRITE MUSIC, AND IMPROVISE. PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPOSED TO A VARIETY OF WALDEN MUSICIANSHIP MATERIALS, INCLUDING ACOUSTICS, DRILLS WITH INTERVALS AND TRIADS, RESOLVING STRUCTURES, RHYTHMS, SOLFEGE AND HARMONIC ANALYSIS. CLASSES ALSO INCLUDE TOPICS IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND COMPUTER MUSIC. COMPOSITION LESSONS AND MASTER CLASSES ARE OFFERED.
  3. $10,663 spent. THE WALDEN SCHOOL HOSTS VARIOUS ALUMNI EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DESIGNED TO CONNECT ALUMNI TO RETAIN A VIBRANT CONNECTION TO THE ORGANIZATION.
  4. $5,319 spent. THE WALDEN SCHOOL'S MUSICIANSHIP COURSE ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO USE THE MATERIALS THEY STUDY TO CREATE IMPROVISATORY WORKS AND ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS. THE METHOD NOT ONLY ENHANCES STUDENTS' MUSICAL SKILLS, BUT ALSO DEVELOPS A SENSE OF CREATIVE INDIVIDUALITY IN EXTRA-MUSICAL PURSUITS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 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 May 2010.

    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.