The Academy at Penguin Hall Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- 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
Our mission is to educate, enlighten, and empower young women to live and to lead exemplary lives.
- Income
- $5.8 million
- Spending
- $5.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- -51.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $126,481, director of enrollment management
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 134% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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
0 of 7Reports no 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (1)
- $4.1 million spent. PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO SECONDARY-SCHOOL AGED YOUNG WOMEN ENROLLED AT ITS GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. THE ACADEMY AT PENGUIN HALL IS AN INCLUSIVE, INDEPENDENT, COLLEGE PREPATORY SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN WHICH IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON; INTELLECTUALLY, SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY AND CREATIVELY. THE ACADEMY AT PENGUIN HALL PROVIDES A HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED, STUDENT CENTERED, DIVERSE AND CHALLENGING EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. EVERY PROGRAMMATIC DECISION IS BASED ON CURRENT RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT HOW GIRLS LEARN, DEVELOP AND THRIVE. OUR CURRICULUM IS HIGHLY INTEGRATED AND STEEPED IN THE EXPERIENTIAL SO THAT GIRLS DEVELOP THE CONFIDENCE TO BECOME DRIVERS OF THEIR OWN LEARNING. THIS APPROACH ENABLES COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THROUGH THE INTEGRATIN OF MEANINGFUL STUDENT RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND LIFE-CHANGING SERVICE LEARNING. AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO LEARNING INVIGORATES THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONEMENT, ENERGIZES THE CURRICULUM WITH A REAL-WORLD RELEVANCE, AND SPARKS STUDENTS' DESIRE TO EXPLORE, INVESTIGATE AND UNDERSTAND THE WORLD. THE ACADEMY'S APPROACH PREPARES STUDENTS NOT ONLY FOR COLLEGE BUT LIFE BEYOND ACADEMIC WALLS. SERVING STUDENTS FROM OVER 40 COMMUNITIES IN A STONE MANOR HOUSE SURROUNDED BY 50 ACRES OF SWEEPING LAWNS AND WOODED LAND.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 August 2016.
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 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.