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Bergman Academy

EIN 42-1087681 · Des Moines, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT NURTURES TOTAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE GUIDING STUDENTS TOWARD THE JOY OF LIFELONG LEARNING.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
-4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
86
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$161,341, head of school

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

Weak: 36 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 73% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 48 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: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $4.5 million spent. BERGMAN ACADEMY EMPOWERS, SUPPORTS, AND INSPIRES STUDENTS TO REACH HIGH. REIMAGINING THE POSSIBILITIES OF EDUCATION, OUR CLASSROOMS LOOK INTENTIONALLY DIFFERENT. GUIDED BY OUR KEY VALUES, LESSONS ARE CHALLENGING, YET JOYFUL, AS WE ENCOURAGE ALL CHILDREN TO GROW AS CURIOUS, CREATIVE, AND ETHICALLY MINDED LEARNERS. WE SEE EACHCHILD AS A UNIQUE LEARNER WITH AN INDIVIDUAL TIMING OF GROWTH. DIFFERENTIATED GUIDED INSTRUCTION IN SMALL CLASSROOMS ALLOWS TEACHERS TO RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES. ACCELERATED STUDENTS CAN BE CHALLENGED WHILE REMAINING WITH THEIR PEERS AND PARTICIPATING IN ADVANCED ENRICHMENT PROJECTS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)WE KEEP OUR CLASSES INTENTIONALLY SMALL TO BENEFIT OUR LEARNERS. SMALL STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIOS (7:1 PRESCHOOL, 9:1 PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND 16:1 KINDERGARTEN-EIGHTH GRADE) ALLOW OUR TEACHERS TO BUILD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL STUDENTS. WE WANT CHILDREN TO LOVE SCHOOL AND BE EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING EACH DAY. FROM POND STUDIES IN THE PARK, TO GEOCACHING IN THE WOODS, TO VISITING LOCAL CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL TREASURES LIKE THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, STUDENTS EXPERIENCE ENGAGING PROJECT-BASED AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

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 May 1979.

    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.