Spruce Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 826 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SILVER SPRUCE ACADEMY PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES UTILIZED IN CURRICULUM EDUCATION TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE FOUR CORNERS AREA, IN COLLABORATION WTIH OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
- Income
- $223,214
- Spending
- $227,860
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 9.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 99%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 101
- Highest pay
- $72,716, 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 826 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $189,616 spent. IN ITS 11TH YEAR OF OPERATION, SILVER SPRUCE ACADEMY, INC. CONTINUED TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY HOMESCHOOL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE FOUR CORNERS REGION. DURING THE 20242025 SCHOOL YEAR, THE ACADEMY CONTRACTED WITH MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR K8 STUDENTS, ANIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOR 912 STUDENTS, PUEBLO COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SAN JUAN COLLEGE TO EXTEND ACCESS TO DUAL ENROLLMENT RECEIVING STATE FUNDING FROM THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THROUGH THE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE. ---------------- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAIL ----------------
- THE ACADEMY CELEBRATED A MAJOR MILESTONE WITH THE OPENING OF ITS NEW SDA CAMPUS FOR THE 20242025 SCHOOL YEAR. THE EXPANDED CLASSROOMS AND A 3+ ACRE PLAYGROUND HAVE BEEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECEIVED BY STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF, FURTHER SUPPORTING OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY- ROOTED ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THAT INSPIRE GROWTH AND LIFELONG LEARNING. A TOTAL OF 326 STUDENTS WERE SERVED, INCLUDING 53 FUNDED ENROLLED, 15 FEE- BASED ENROLLED, AND 258 UNENROLLED STUDENT PARTICIPANTS. AMONG THESE, 46 WERE K8 GRADE STUDENTS AND 7 WERE 9-12 GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVING FUNDED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM 110 ENRICHMENT CLASSES AND 50 EDUCATIONAL EVENT CLASSES, ENGAGED BY 102 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED MORE THAN 172 HOURS. POPULAR OFFERINGS INCLUDED INTERNSHIPS, ORCHESTRA, ARCHEOLOGY, FUTURE CITY, NATURAL DYES AND PAINT, AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY, STOP MOTION ANIMATION, LEGO ROBOTICS, MICROBIOLOGY, SIGN LANGUAGE, CARTOGRAPHY, FOODS THAT BUILT AMERICA, DURANGO ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY, TECH IN THE WILD, MUSEUM OF NAVAJO ART, CPR & FIRST AID, SILVERTON MINING AND MILLING, PUEBLO COMMUNITY COLLEGE CALCULUS I & II, DURANGO AND SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD TRAIN YARD AND MUSEUM, TECH TAKE APART, MAKERLAB, ICE SKATING, RADIO STATION TRADES, SKI/SNOWBOARD CLUB, FORT LEWIS COLLEGE LITERACY SCAVENGER HUNT, DURANGO WOMENS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, LEIF LEATHER, YOGA, UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE FIRE TANKER BASE, SAN JUAN COLLEGE PLANETARIUM & SCHOOL OF ENERGY. THESE DIVERSE CLASSES REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO HANDS- ON, EXPERIENTIAL CLASSES INCORPORATING INTERDISCIPLINARY AND MULTI-AGE LEVELED LEARNING.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.