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Groves Academy

EIN 41-0979871 · St Louis Park, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GROVES LEARNING ORGANIZATION IS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SUCCESS FOR LEARNERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES SUCH AS DYSLEXIA, ADHD AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION CHALLENGES. THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED APPROACHES AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH UNIQUE LEARNER, OUR VISION IS TO REDEFINE THE WAY OUR NATION IS TAUGHT, ONE STUDENT, ONE TEACHER, AND ONE SCHOOL AT A TIME.

Income
$19.0 million
Spending
$21.6 million
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 81%
Employees
248
Volunteers
112
Highest pay
$294,138, president

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

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 66 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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 August 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. $9.7 million spent. GROVES ACADEMY SERVES LEARNERS IN GRADES 1-12 WITH STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES SUCH AS DYSLEXIA, ADHD, EXECUTIVE FUNCTION CHALLENGES, AND OTHER LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DISABILITIES. OPENING IN 1972 IN ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA, GROVES IS THE MIDWEST'S LEADING SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES. OUR RESEARCH-BASED, MULTI-SENSORY APPROACH MEETS EACH LEARNER WHERE THEY ARE, HONORING STRENGTHS WHILE TACKLING CHALLENGES HEAD-ON. WITH SMALL CLASS SIZES, SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM, AND EXPERT TEACHERS WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND THE CHALLENGES LEARNERS FACE TO FEEL SUCCESSFUL, WE CREATE A SPACE WHERE STUDENTS LEARN, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND SUCCEED AT SCHOOL AND AT LIFE.
  2. $2.9 million spent. GROVES LEARNING CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF FEE-BASED SERVICES TO THE GREATER TWIN CITIES COMMUNITY AND TO OUR GROVES STUDENTS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, TUTORING, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE ASSESSMENTS AND THERAPY. SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFER A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 2-12. THE LEARNING CENTER IS ONE OF THE FEW SITES IN THE TWIN CITIES THAT OFFERS ALL OF THESE SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF, AND MANY OF OUR LEARNING CENTER CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN MORE THAN ONE SERVICE.
  3. $2.3 million spent. GROVES LITERACY PARTNERS (GLP) IS A RAPIDLY GROWING PROGRAM PROVIDING CURRICULUM, COACHING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SYSTEMS GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS TO HELP CLOSE THE LITERACY GAP FOR OVER 11,000 STUDENTS IN OVER 90 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA. GLP COLLABORATES WITH SCHOOLS, USING RESEARCH-BASED METHODS, TO HELP EMERGING AND STRUGGLING READERS AND UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS. THE VISION FOR THIS PROGRAM IS TO EXPAND NATIONWIDE TO INFLUENCE LONG-TERM CHANGE IN HOW TEACHERS DELIVER CLASSROOM LITERACY INSTRUCTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 August 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 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.