Carolina Friends School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL IS A VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING COMMUNITY EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY, CREATIVELY, AND INDEPENDENTLY. WE FOSTER ACTIVE EXPLORATION AND QUIET REFLECTION, INDIVIDUAL ENDEAVOR AND COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT. INSPIRED BY QUAKER VALUES PURSUIT OF TRUTH, RESPECT FOR ALL, PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT, SIMPLICITY, THE CALL TO SERVICE, WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.
- Income
- $17.6 million
- Spending
- $18.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 340
- Volunteers
- 75
- Highest pay
- $283,058, 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: 54 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 20 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
- $14.8 million spent. PROVIDE EDUCATION TO STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL (3 YEARS OLD) THROUGH UPPER SCHOOL (12TH GRADE). AT CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL, LEARNING IS DYNAMIC, EXPERIENTIAL, AND INTERACTIVE. STUDENTS ENCOUNTER OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS, UNDERTAKE ORIGINAL PROJECTS OF REAL RELEVANCE, EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD, AND IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN SERVICE LEARNING. IN DOING SO, THEY BUILD IMPRESSIVE POWERS OF CRITICAL, CREATIVE, AND INDEPENDENT THINKING AND EXPRESSION. IT IS EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION SHAPED BY A CLEAR SET OF BELIEFS, A COMMITMENT TO QUAKER VALUES, A LOVE OF CHILDREN, AND A SENSE OF HOPE FOR THE COMMUNITIES, LOCAL AND GLOBAL, THEY WILL SOON LEAD AND SERVE. AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 2024/2025, THERE WERE 490 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL.
- $1.5 million spent. AUXILIARY SERVICES FOR CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL CARE, SUMMER PROGRAMS, AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION TO AUXILIARY SERVICES, EXPENSES INCLUDE THOSE SUPPORTING SPORTS PROGRAMS, LIBRARY SERVICES, AND SUPPORTING LEARNING NEEDS. AFTER-SCHOOL CARE IS OFFERED IN THE LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS UNTIL 5:45 PM EACH SCHOOL DAY. OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFER A VARIETY OF WEEKLY CAMPS TO THE COMMUNITY. THE CAMPS ARE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND PROVIDE AN OUTREACH TO A WIDE VARIETY OF FAMILIES IN THE AREA. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,114 STUDENTS INVOLVED IN AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOL YEAR 2024/2025. MANY STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN MORE THAN ONE ACTIVITY. ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE AFTER-SCHOOL "FUN SHOPS" IN ART, SCIENCE, SPORTS, AND MUSIC LESSONS. PEACEFUL SCHOOLS NC PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONSULTING, STUDENT PROGRAMS, AND FAMILY SUPPORT TO FOSTER POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES SO THAT ALL MEMBERS CAN THRIVE.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1965.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.