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Fiddlehead School

EIN 46-2313240 · Gray, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak36 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE LEARNING THROUGH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE ARTS AND SCIENCES IN A SAFE, CREATIVE, FUND AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT. WHAT WE STRIVE FOR AT FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES IS COMMITTED TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD - SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, ACADEMICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, AND ARTISTICALLY. THE GOAL OF A FIDDLEHEAD EDUCATION IS FOR STUDENTS TO BUILD A TOOLBOX OF HABITS, SKILLS, AND WONDERINGS TO DRIVE A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
71
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$105,897, executive di

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. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    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 (5)
  1. $1.0 million spent. FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THAT OPENED IN FALL 2013. IT PROVIDES EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 189 CHILDREN FROM 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 8. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSPIRATION OF THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH GUIDE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOL: THE IMAGE OF THE CHILD,CHILDREN'S RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITHIN A SYSTEM, THE ROLE OF FAMILIES, THE ROLE OF SPACE, TEACHERS AND CHILDREN AS PARTNERS IN LEARNING. AT FIDDLEHEAD, CHILDREN DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN LITERACY, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. MISSION OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM: FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC CHARTER THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 8. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH GUIDE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOL AT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD AGES FROM GRADES PRE-K TO 2ND GRADE: IN GRADES 3RD THROUGH 5TH OUR APPROACH IS MORE INQUIRY BASED; AND IN THE UPPER GRADES OUR APPROACH IS PROJECT & PLACED BASED. THROUGH THESE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES, OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE CHILD/WHOLE STUDENT. FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THAT OPENED IN FALL 2013. IT PROVIDES EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 189 CHILDREN FROM 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 8. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INSPIRATION OF THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH GUIDE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOL: THE IMAGE OF THE CHILD,CHILDREN'S RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITHIN A SYSTEM, THE ROLE OF FAMILIES, THE ROLE OF SPACE, TEACHERS AND CHILDREN AS PARTNERS IN LEARNING. AT FIDDLEHEAD, CHILDREN DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN LITERACY, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. MISSION OF INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES PROGRAM: FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC CHARTER THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 8. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH GUIDE TEACHING AND LEARNING AT FIDDLEHEAD SCHOOL AT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD AGES FROM GRADES PRE-K TO 2ND GRADE: IN GRADES 3RD THROUGH 5TH OUR APPROACH IS MORE INQUIRY BASED; AND IN THE UPPER GRADES OUR APPROACH IS PROJECT & PLACED BASED. THROUGH THESE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES, OUR GOAL IS TO DEVELOP THE WHOLE CHILD/WHOLE STUDENT.
  2. $886,588 spent. MISSION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM: WITHIN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE THE MISSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO MEET THE CHILD WHERE THEY ARE AND PROVIDE AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN THAT AIDS IN A YEARS WORTH OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BASED ON EACH CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL GOALS.
  3. $169,737 spent. MISSION OF FACILITIES PROGRAM: THE MISSION OF OUR FACILITIES PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT BY WHICH CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND GROW. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE FACILITY CLEAN AND UP TO DATE ON MAINTENANCE ANNUALLY BY IDENTIFYING AREAS OF NEED.
  4. $385,490 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER STUDENT SERVICES
  5. OTHER PROGRAMS: OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER STUDENT SERVICES

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 August 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 October 21, 2026.

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