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Charter School of Inquiry

EIN 47-1284283 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHARTER SCHOOL OF INQUIRY (CSI) WILL ACHIEVE BREAKTHROUGH OUTCOMES FOR CITY OF BUFFALO CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 6 BY CREATING AN INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH AN INTENSE FOCUS ON LEARNING TO READ AND WRITE WELL IN ALL SUBJECT AREAS. CSI OFFERS AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION USING INTENTIONAL READING AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, ALIGNED CURRICULUM, ENGAGING INQUIRY-BASED PRACTICES, AND AN OUTSTANDING SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS. CHILDREN AT CSI WILL LEARN TO THINK CRITICALLY, PROBLEM-SOLVE, AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENABLE THEIR PARTICIPATION AS CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
58
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$189,751, head 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

Financial health

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 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)
  1. $3.6 million spent. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - CHARTER SCHOOL OF INQUIRY WILL CHALLENGE STUDENTS GRADES K-6 TO THINK CRITICALLY, PROBLEM SOLVE AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY THROUGH THE INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT THE SCHOOL PROVIDES, WHICH WILL ENABLE THE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS CITIZENS OF THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD
  2. $598,845 spent. SPECIAL EDUCATION - STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
  3. $289,343 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - INCLUDES EXTENDED DAY STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL WORKER SERVICES PROVIDED TO ALL STUDENTS

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 April 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.