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Schoolhouse of Wonder

EIN 56-1670472 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SCHOOLHOUSE OF WONDER CREATES KIND, CURIOUS, AND CONFIDENT KIDS THROUGH NATURE-BASED OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.

Income
$1.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
1.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
108
Volunteers
23
Highest pay
$123,914, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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. $1.4 million spent. CAMPS: AWARD-WINNING, YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR DAY CAMPS WITH AREAS OF FOCUS THAT INCLUDE NATURE EXPLORATION, NATURALIST SKILLS, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS (CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM), SOCIAL AWARENESS, EMOTIONAL REGULATION, RELATIONSHIP SKILLS, AND RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING. 4,864 CAMP SEATS WERE FILLED BETWEEN JANUARY-DECEMBER 2025.
  2. $44,732 spent. FIELD TRIPS: EACH DAY-LONG FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCE ALLOWS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR SENSE OF WONDER THROUGH ACTIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING INCLUDING ADVENTURES IN SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATH, MUSIC, AND FOLKLORE. TOPICS INCLUDE: FOREST ECOSYSTEMS & LIVING ORGANISMS, ENO PLANT WALK, INSECT ADVENTURES, GEOLOGY, EARLY AMERICAN LIFE, NATIVE WAYS, AND SURVIVAL SKILLS. IN 2025, 2,312 STUDENTS WERE SERVED.
  3. $25,703 spent. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: OPPORTUNIES FOR 13-17 YEAR OLDS TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP STYLE AND PRACTICE NECESSARY LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN OUR AWARD-WINNING OUTDOOR DAY CAMPS. SKILL BUILDING OCCURS THROUGH THE CREATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS, REAL TIME FEEDBACK, AND A WEEKLY COACHING SESSION WITH SENIOR STAFF TO ASSESS INDIVIDUAL PROGRESS. DURING 2025, WE HAD 338 WEEK-LONG TRAINING EXPERIENCES FOR 13-15 YEAR OLDS, AND 23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNIES FOR 16-17 YEAR OLDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 February 1991.

    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.