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The Montessori Foundation Incorporated

EIN 52-1798231 · Bradenton, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PROMOTE MONTESSORI SCHOOLS AND THE CURRICULUM, METHODOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-0.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
9
Highest pay
$164,438, secretary

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

Weak: 29 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 122% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 60 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 3 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

    0 of 5

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

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (5)
  1. $345,092 spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE HARD TO FIND BOOKS ABOUT MONTESSORI EDUCATION MADE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS, EDUCATORS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE MONTESSORI WAY WAS WRITTEN TO PROVIDE A CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION TO MONTESSORI AS IT HAS BEEN PRACTICED IN MONTESSORI SCHOOLS. MONTESSORI 101 IS A 72 PAGE PUBLICATON THAT INTRODUCES MONTESSORI TO THE PARENT NEW TO THE PROGRAM AND COVERS THE THEORY, HISTORY, BASIC PROGRAM, CHILD DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND CURRICULM FOR MONTESSORI FROM INFANTS THROUGH SECONDARY PROGRAMS. THE PAMPLET SERIES IS MADE UP OF A DOZEN OR SO FULL COLOR TRIFOLD PAMPHLETS, EACH ADDRESSING A SPECIFIC ISSUE OF INTEREST TO PARENTS ABOUT MONTESSORI EDUCATION. CONSULTATION SERVICES IN A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS, A RESOURCE LIBRARY, AND PHONE CONSULTATION SERVICES. ALSO PROVIDE PARENTS WITH INFORMATION ON MONTESSORI EDUCATION THROUGH THE WEBSITE, VIDEOS, PHONE AND EMAIL.
  2. $306,984 spent. MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THE MONTESSORI INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL WHICH IS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION PROMOTING MONTESSORI SCHOOLS AND THE NEW GATE SCHOOL. THE NEW GATE SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, INTERNATIONAL, COLLEGE-PREPERATORY MONTESSORI SCHOOL IN SARASOTA FLORIDA. THEIR GOAL IS TO NURTURE INTELLIGENCE, CURIOSITY, AND IMAGINATION WHILE SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING EACH STUDENTS UNIQUE TALENTS, PREPARING THEM FOR UNIVERSITY AND LIFE. THE FOUNDATION HAS ADVANCED SIGNIFICANT FUNDS TO THE NEW GATE SCHOOL WHICH ARE REPAID PERIODICALLY.
  3. $253,213 spent. WORKSHOPS, CONSORTIUMS, AND ONLINE COURSES FOR MONTESSORI SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND BOARD MEMBERS. CONFERENCES FOR MONTESSORI EDUCATORS EXPLORE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING CHILDREN SELF-ESTEEM, UNIVERSAL VALUES(HONESTY, KINDNESS, COMPASSION, NONVIOLENCE, MORAL COURAGE, ETC.),GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING, AND LIFELONG TRADITION OF CHARITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. DERS & MEFS CONSORTIUM MEMBERSHIPS PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH TRAINING AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS TO IMPROVE CLASSROOM QUALITY AND STUDENT OUTCOMES.
  4. $185,191 spent. PUBLICATIONS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS - PUBLICATION OF TOMORROWS CHILD, A MAGAZINE THAT SEEKS TO EXPLAIN AND PROMOTE ISSUES AND TRENDS IN MONTESSORI EDUCATION TO THE PARENTS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN MONTESSORI SCHOOLS AND TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  5. LINE 4D - SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACOMPLISHMENT

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 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 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 May 1994.

    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.