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Principia Corporation

EIN 43-0652667 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Principia's primary purpose is to serve the cause of Christian Science as an independent educational institution, providing pre-k - 12th grade education on its campus in St. Louis County, Missouri, and college education on its campus in Elsah, Illinois.

Income
$158.2 million
Spending
$113.5 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
24 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 57%
Employees
1,160
Volunteers
413
Highest pay
$436,410, chief executive

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 14 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 (4)
  1. $44.9 million spent. INSTRUCTION: IN 1897, MARY KIMBALL MORGAN, A CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST, BEGAN HOME-SCHOOLING HER TWO SONS BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED SHE COULD GIVE THEM A FULLER EDUCATION THAN WHAT WAS BEING OFFERED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GRADUALLY, IT BECAME APPARENT TO MRS. MORGAN THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL WAS NEEDED. THE NAME "PRINCIPIA", MEANING "FIRST PRINCIPLES," WAS CHOSEN FOR THE SCHOOL MRS. MORGAN ESTABLISHED IN 1898. PRINCIPIA'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE CAUSE OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE AS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION - NOT THROUGH TEACHING THE THEOLOGY OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, BUT THROUGH PROVIDING PROGRAMS WHICH WILL ALLOW ITS STUDENTS TO GROW INTELLECTUALLY, ATHLETICALLY, SOCIALLY, MORALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY WITH THE SUPPORT AND EXAMPLE OF FELLOW STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. PRINCIPIA STRIVES TO TRAIN ITS STUDENTS "TO THINK CLEARLY, VIGOROUSLY, FEARLESSLY, TOLERANTLY, UNSELFISHLY." TEACHING AT PRINCIPIA ALSO "EMPHASIZES THE POINT OF VIEW THAT EDUCATION CARRIES WITH IT THE OBLIGATION TO USE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND INTELLECTUAL ATTAINMENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HUMANITY." (Continued on Schedule O) PRINCIPIA "TAKES THE POSITION THAT EDUCATION, IN ITS FULLEST SENSE, CANNOT BE CONFINED TO ACADEMIC SUBJECTS BUT INCLUDES THE BUILDING OF CHARACTER" (FROM PURPOSE AND POLICIES OF THE PRINCIPIA). PRINCIPIA COLLEGE IS LOCATED IN ELSAH, ILLINOIS (45 MINUTES FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI). A PORTION OF THE CAMPUS IS A DESIGNATED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT FOR ITS MANY BUILDINGS AND DESIGNS BY RENOWNED ARCHITECT BERNARD MAYBECK. THE CURRICULUM CURRENTLY OFFERS COURSES IN 28 REGULAR ACADEMIC MAJORS LEADING TO EITHER A BACHELOR OF ARTS OR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE. 28 STATES AND 34 COUNTRIES ARE REPRESENTED AMONG THE STUDENTS. NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS RECOGNIZE PRINCIPIA COLLEGE AS ONE OF THE TOP LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS IN THE MIDWEST, INCLUDING CONSISTENT TOP-TEN RANKINGS AS A "BEST VALUE SCHOOL". THE COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION AND ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 300 STUDENTS EACH ACADEMIC YEAR. PRINCIPIA SCHOOL IS A COED BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL LOCATED ON A 360-ACRE CAMPUS IN THE WESTERN SUBURBS OF ST. LOUIS. INSTRUCTION IS PROVIDED TO APPROX. 500 STUDENTS IN PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH 12TH GRADE. OVER 90 % OF GRADUATING SENIORS GO ON TO COLLEGE. THE UPPER SCHOOL OFFERS 20 HONORS/AP CLASSES. 85% OF UPPER SCHOOL FACULTY HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES. (Expenses $ 8,549,549 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 2,499,941) OTHER: OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING ACADEMIC SUPPORT
  2. $16.1 million spent. AUXILIARY ENTERPRISES: FOOD SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF THROUGH TWO FULL-SERVICE DINING ROOMS, PLUS A STUDENT GRILL. DORMITORIES PROVIDE HOUSING AT PRINCIPIA COLLEGE. The St. Louis campus accepts both day and boarding students. STUDENTS MAY PURCHASE A VARIETY OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BOOKS, CLOTHING, AND PERSONAL ITEMS AT EITHER THE COLLEGE OR SCHOOL BOOKSTORE.
  3. $15.0 million spent. STUDENT SERVICES: INCLUDES ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR, COLLEGE ATHLETICS, OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE, AND HEALTH SERVICES. PRINCIPIA COLLEGE IS A MEMBER OF THE ST. LOUIS INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SLIAC), WHICH INCLUDES 10 COLLEGES LOCATED IN KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS, IOWA, AND MISSOURI. PRINCIPIA TEAMS COMPETE IN 6 MEN'S AND 7 WOMEN'S SPORTS. NO ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED BY ANY MEMBER OF SLIAC. PRINCIPIA COLLEGE MAINTAINS SEVERAL ATHLETIC FACILITIES, INCLUDING AN ATHLETIC CENTER, NATATORIUM, FIELD HOUSE, INDOOR TENNIS CENTER, 4 OUTDOOR FIELDS, OUTDOOR TENNIS COURTS, AND RUNNING TRAILS. (Continued on Schedule O) UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE ST. LOUIS METRO LEAGUE IN ONE OR MORE SPORTS OF THE 15 OFFERED. THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES INCLUDE 3 GYMNASIUMS, AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL, SOCCER FIELDS, FOOTBALL FIELD, ALL-WEATHER RUNNING TRACK, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS, TENNIS COURTS, ROPES COURSE, AND CROSS COUNTRY COURSE. THE RECENTLY COMPLETED BILL SIMON FIELD HOUSE, A STATE-OF-THE-ART 80,000+SQ FT FACILITY WITH CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL PERFORMANCE SPACES, CHARACTER LAB, LOCKER ROOMS, AND FITNESS CENTER, serves as an integral school and community resource. THE OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE COORDINATES COLLEGE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT, RESIDENTIAL LIVING, AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT. (Expenses $ 8,549,549 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 2,499,941) OTHER: OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING ACADEMIC SUPPORT
  4. $8.5 million spent. OTHER: OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING ACADEMIC SUPPORT

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 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 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 October 1951.

    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.