Idea School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE IDEA SCHOOL PROVIDES A CHILD-CENTERED EDUCATION THAT NURTURES COMPETENCE, CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION AND COMPASSION THROUGH WORK THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO STUDENTS AND PROMOTES LIFELONG LEARNING.
- Income
- $629,402
- Spending
- $689,587
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 0.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 1
- Highest pay
- $57,422, director
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: 33 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 20% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 7 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
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 (3)
- $550,117 spent. DURING THE 20242025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDED EXPERIENTIAL, ENGAGING EDUCATION TO 40 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE. WE DESIGNED A CURRICULUM AND PEDAGOGY BUILT ON STUDENTS INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO LEARN AND MAKE REAL-WORLD CONNECTIONS. OUR STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS AND STRONG HABITS OF MIND SUCH AS COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, EMPATHY, AND CRITICAL THINKING. IDEA SCHOOL STUDENTS GROW TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LEARNING AND, IN TURN, THEIR LIVES BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
- $127 spent. DURING THE 20242025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDED EXPERIENTIAL, ENGAGING EDUCATION TO 40 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE. WE DESIGNED A CURRICULUM AND PEDAGOGY BUILT ON STUDENTS INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO LEARN AND MAKE REAL-WORLD CONNECTIONS. OUR STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS AND STRONG HABITS OF MIND SUCH AS COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, EMPATHY, AND CRITICAL THINKING. IDEA SCHOOL STUDENTS GROW TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LEARNING AND, IN TURN, THEIR LIVES BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
- DURING THE 20242025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDED EXPERIENTIAL, ENGAGING EDUCATION TO 40 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE. WE DESIGNED A CURRICULUM AND PEDAGOGY BUILT ON STUDENTS INTRINSIC MOTIVATION TO LEARN AND MAKE REAL-WORLD CONNECTIONS. OUR STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS AND STRONG HABITS OF MIND SUCH AS COLLABORATION, CREATIVITY, EMPATHY, AND CRITICAL THINKING. IDEA SCHOOL STUDENTS GROW TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR LEARNING AND, IN TURN, THEIR LIVES BOTH IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL.
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.