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Mcdonogh School Incorporated

EIN 52-6001577 · Owings Mills, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 81 cents.

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

What it says it does

SITUATED ON A BEAUTIFUL 800-ACRE CAMPUS IN OWINGS MILLS MD, MCDONOGH SCHOOL IS A COEDUCATIONAL, COLLEGE PREPARATORY, INDEPENDENT PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12 SCHOOL WITH AN OPTIONAL FIVE-DAY BOARDING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12. MCDONOGH SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY THAT FINDS JOY IN WORK, IN PLAY, IN DISCOVERY, AND IN THE REALIZATION OF PERSONAL POTENTIAL. STRONG, MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS INSPIRE A PASSION FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING, A DEDICATION TO PERSONAL INTEGRITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. EMBRACING DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUND, CULTURE, AND THOUGHT, THE SCHOOL BUILDS UPON ITS FOUNDER'S ORIGINAL MISSION TO PROVIDE LIFE-ALTERING OPPORTUNITIES AND TO DEVELOP IN STUDENTS THE WILL "TO DO THE GREATEST POSSIBLE AMOUNT OF GOOD."

Income
$99.3 million
Spending
$71.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
1,010
Volunteers
275
Highest pay
$669,436, 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 81 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    32 of 32 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 (1)
  1. $58.2 million spent. MCDONOGH SCHOOL IS A HIGHLY REGARDED COEDUCATIONAL, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,460 STUDENTS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE. AN OPTIONAL FIVE-DAY BOARDING PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12. MCDONOGH'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO FOSTER A LOVE OF LEARNING. THE LOWER SCHOOL PROVIDES A SOLID FOUNDATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON READING, WRITING, AND MATHEMATICS. TEACHERS WELCOME CHILDREN AS INDIVIDUALS, TAILORING THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL-INTELLECTUALLY, PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILDS ON THAT FOUNDATION WITH APPRECIATION FOR THE INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF YOUNG ADOLESCENTS. STUDENTS LEARN THE ELEMENTS OF RESPONSIBLE SCHOLARSHIP IN READING, ENGLISH, WORLD LANGUAGES, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND TECHNOLOGY. THE UPPER SCHOOL COMBINES RIGOROUS ACADEMICS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS VERSATILITY, STUDENTS SELECT HONORS AND ADVANCED COURSES, DEVELOP THEIR ATHLETIC AND ARTISTIC ABILITIES, LEARN LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK SKILLS, AND GRADUATE WELL PREPARED FOR COLLEGE.FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 10A:THE POLICIES DESCRIBED IN PART VI, SECTION B, LINES 10A-16B APPLY TO MCDONOGH SCHOOL, INC. AND ITS AFFILIATE AS LISTED BELOW: FOLIO NETWORK, LLC

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 May 1977.

    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.