Out-Of-Door Academy of Sarasota Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO NURTURE LEARNERS TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES THROUGH IMPACTFUL, PURPOSEFUL, AND CHALLENGING GROWTH EXPERIENCES IN A SUPPORTIVE AND UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT. OUR VISION IS TO PREPARE GROWTH-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO THRIVE IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD.
- Income
- $36.5 million
- Spending
- $31.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 74%
- Employees
- 299
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $384,977, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 48% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (1)
- $27.7 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1924, THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA EDUCATING STUDENTS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE. ODA SERVES MORE THAN 885 STUDENTS ACROSS THREE CAMPUSES - LOWER SCHOOL ON SIESTA KEY (GRADES PK-5TH GRADE), LOWER SCHOOL AT CLARK ROAD (GRADES PK-2ND GRADE) AND THE MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL AT THE UIHLEIN CAMPUS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH (GRADES 6-12). AN ODA EDUCATION IS DEFINED BY A COMMITMENT TO BUILD CHARACTER AND PREPARE STUDENTS TO THRIVE IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD. AT ODA, WE STRIVE TO NURTURE LEARNERS TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES THROUGH IMPACTFUL, CHALLENGING, AND PURPOSEFUL GROWTH EXPERIENCES IN A SUPPORTIVE AND UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR CORE VALUES OF RESPECT, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, EXCELLENCE, AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
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 January 1978.
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.