Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Teaching Beyond the Square Inc

EIN 46-1199298 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood73 out of 100GovernanceFair67 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TEACHING BEYOND THE SQUARE (TBS) IS A NONPROFIT BASED IN NYC WHICH AIMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, TBS WORKS WITH STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, AND POLICYMAKERS TO ADVANCE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BEST PRACTICES WHICH ARE MORE PLAYFUL, EFFECTIVE, ENGAGING AND EQUITABLE. TEACHING BEYOND THE SQUARE IS UNLOCKING THE EDUCATIONAL MINDSET, ENGAGING FAMILIES THROUGH THE OPPORTUNITY OF PLAY, AND HELPING CHILDREN THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Income
$257,880
Spending
$306,611
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
7
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$65,882, secretary/sr educational d

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $58,941 spent. CONSULTING AND PARTNERSHIPS - OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND CONSULTING WORK WITH SCHOOLS AND CENTERS INCLUDES WORKSHOPS AND ON-GOING COLLABORATIONS WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN EXPLORING AND IMPLEMENTING PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES. OUR CONSULTANTS HELP EDUCATORS UNDERSTAND EMERGENT CURRICULUM, CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT DESIGN, THE INCORPORATION OF FOUND AND NATURAL MATERIALS, AND CREATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
  2. $119,312 spent. MATERIALS CENTER - THE MATERIALS CENTER IS A PUBLIC COMMUNITY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE CREATIVE REUSE OF MATERIALS THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE DISCARDED. WE COLLECT A VARIETY OF "FOUND AND NATURAL MATERIALS, AND OFFER THEM TO EDUCATORS AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 2013.

    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.