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Keres Childrens Learning Center

EIN 45-4511408 · Cochiti Publo, NM

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

WE USE A COMPREHENSIVE CULTURAL AND MONTESSORI CURRICULUM WITH A KERES- LANGUAGE IMMERSION INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH FOR STUDENTS BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE, SUPPORTING THEIR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TAUGHT BY ELDERS, AS WELL AS TEACHER TRAINING IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDIGENOUS EDUCATION.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
47
Highest pay
$101,604, ceo

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

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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 July 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. $1.6 million spent. SCHOOL PROGRAM-LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION MONTESSORI SCHOOL KCLC IS A KERES-LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION MONTESSORI SCHOOL USING KERES IMMERSION AND THE MONTESSORI METHOD TO TEACH 29 CHILDREN, BIRTH THROUGH AGE 15, IN ALL ACADEMIC SUBJECTS. KCLC USES AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION THAT INVOLVES CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY ELDERS IN RECLAIMING THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
  2. $291,809 spent. INDIGENOUS MONTESSORI INSTITUTE THE INDIGENOUS MONTESSORI INSTITUTE (IMI) WAS CREATED BY KCLC IN 2018 TO ASSIST COMMUNITITES IN RECLAIMING AN EDUCATIONAL MODEL THROUGH TEACHER PREPARATION THAT IS IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. IMI HAS TWO TEACHER- TRAINING TRACKS: THE MONTESSORI TEACHER TRAINING TRACK AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDIGENOUS EDUCATION (PIE) TRACK, WHICH GRADUATED TWO COHORTS--15 IN SUMMER 2024 (INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE-IMMERSION APPROACHES COURSE)AND 9 IN FALL 2024 (RECLAIMING INDIGENOUS EDUCATION COURSE). IMI ALSO PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NUMEROUS TRIBES AND COMMUNITIES.
  3. $194,054 spent. MENTOR-APPRENTICE PROGRAM SIX ADULT APPRENTICES AND SIX ELDER MENTORS COMPLETED KCLCS THIRD MENTOR- APPRENTICE COHORT IN WHICH APPRENTICES AND MENTORS SPENT 15 HOURS OR MORE EACH WEEK TOGETHER IN A KERES-IMMERSION SETTING.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on June 15, 2015 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on June 15, 2015.

    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 July 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 December 2015.

    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.