The School of Architecture
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- 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
BUILDING ON FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S DESIGNS AND THOUGHTS, THE SCHOOL IS A GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ARCHITECTURE THAT TEACHES AND PRACTICES LEARNING BY DOING, NEW WAYS OF LOOKING, AN ABILITY TO HONOR AND BUILD WITH THE LANDSCAPE, AND EXPERIMENTATION. STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO SERVE OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES BY MAKING OUR ENVIRONMENT MORE SUSTAINABLE, OPEN TO ALL, AND BEAUTIFUL.
- Income
- $880,937
- Spending
- $948,879
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- -5.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $25,426, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 156% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 16 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 May 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)
- $538,281 spent. THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE OFFERS ACCREDITED MASTERS LEVEL GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN ARCHITECTURE DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS WHO THRIVE IN AN IMMERSIVE AND MULTIFACETED ENVIRONMENT FOCUSING ON RIGOROUS DESIGN, CRITICAL THINKING, AND HANDS-ON LEARNING. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN REAL WORLD DESIGN-BUILD PROJECTS THAT SERVE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE SMALL-SCALE OF THE SCHOOL FACILITATES AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND FOSTERS A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF. THE SCHOOL PROVIDED $101,992 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND DISCOUNTS.
- $97,705 spent. THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE PROVIDES STUDENTS SERVICES INCLUDING RESIDENCE LIFE ACTIVITIES, FOOD SERVICES, SCHOOL CAR, LIBRARY, FINANCIAL AID AND ADMISSIONS SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE RELATED PROJECTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE SCHOOL INVITES NOTABLE ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS TO SPEAK AND PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE STUDENTS.
- GEARED TO COLLEGE-LEVEL PARTICIPANTS AND ADULTS INTERESTED IN DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL DISCIPLINE, THE SCHOOL OFFERS FALL AND SPRING SEMESTER IMMERSION PROGRAMS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT ARCHITECTURE SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH FACULTY AND GRADUATE STUDENTS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.