Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Montessori Education Centers Associated Inc

EIN 36-2699106 · Clarendon Hls, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OPERATION OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL AND TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
58
Highest pay
$138,333, chair/dir/ex

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: 83 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 80 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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. $2.5 million spent. MONTESSORI EDUCATION CENTERS ASSOCIATED (MECA) IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHOSE CHARITABLE PURPOSE IS FOR EDUCATING YOUNG CHILDREN AND PREPARING THEIR TEACHERS. IT HAS THREE MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS: SETON MONTESSORI SCHOOL, WHICH EDUCATES CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH ELEMENTARY USING THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION; SETON SUMMER CAMP, WHICH OFFERS A DAY CAMP FOCUSED ON THE LEARNING AND COOPERATING IN THE OUTDOORS; AND SETON MONTESSORI INSTITUTE, WHICH PREPARES TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION AND OFFERS AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY CREDENTIALS IN INFANT-TODDLER, EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. IN ADDITION, MECA REGULARLY OFFERS RESOURCES, EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. MECA ALSO CONSULTS TO NEW MONTESSORI SCHOOLS AND NEW TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS. MONTESSORI EDUCATION CENTERS ASSOCIATED (MECA) IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WHOSE CHARITABLE PURPOSE IS FOR EDUCATING YOUNG CHILDREN AND PREPARING THEIR TEACHERS. IT HAS THREE MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS: SETON MONTESSORI SCHOOL, WHICH EDUCATES CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH ELEMENTARY USING THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION; SETON SUMMER CAMP, WHICH OFFERS A DAY CAMP FOCUSED ON THE LEARNING AND COOPERATING IN THE OUTDOORS; AND SETON MONTESSORI INSTITUTE, WHICH PREPARES TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION AND OFFERS AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY CREDENTIALS IN INFANT-TODDLER, EARLY CHILDHOOD, ELEMENTARY, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. IN ADDITION, MECA REGULARLY OFFERS RESOURCES, EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. MECA ALSO CONSULTS TO NEW MONTESSORI SCHOOLS AND NEW TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 November 1972.

    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 November 4, 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.