Eastside Community School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
We educate our students to fulfill their highest potential - think clearly, feel deeply, impart meaningful purpose to their lives, and actively contribute to the positive development of society.
- Income
- $4.2 million
- Spending
- $4.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -20.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 92%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $175,602, chief administrator
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 10% 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
2 of 20It owes 81% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $734,915 spent. Early Childhood - In our early childhood classrooms, great care is taken to create a warm and home-like setting and a beautiful environment where children's senses are nurtured. Every aspect of our early childhood program is designed to foster healthy and balanced intellectual, emotional, and physical development from daily outdoor play and nature walks to the organic foods served at snack time. Our students learn by engaging in practical activities such as washing dishes, sweeping, gardening, baking and building. We incorporate seasonal crafts, movement, outdoor adventures, and ample creative free play to encourage joyful learning and imaginative exploration. Eastside Community School (ECS) offers preschool and kindergarten for three- to six-year-old children (children must turn three by September 1st).
- $2.4 million spent. Grade School & Middle School - The key to education at Eastside Community School is balance: between students' practical knowledge and their creative enthusiasm; in a rich curriculum where challenging academics are integrated with arts, music, and movement; and where we ensure that learning happens naturally and rhythmically while helping develop students' skill and interest in a variety of subjects and activities. Subjects are made engaging and exciting by teachers skilled in oral storytelling and by integrating each subject with a variety of arts.Elementary School:Students don't merely absorb the subjects taught in the two-hour main lesson. Instead, they reach a deep understanding of each lesson by bringing it to life in books that they design, write, and illustrate about each subject. Day-to-day learning takes place in a non-competitive environment. Parents receive regular updates through parent-teacher conferences, written evaluations of student progress, and close relationships between teachers, students, and families. Teachers and students often progress together from first grade through the middle school years. Other specialty teachers add to the weekly rhythm by sharing their expertise in language instruction, music, handwork, and movement education.Middle School:The middle school years can be both full of anxiousness to explore the world or conversely, full of anxiousness to not be ready. We meet these transition years by seeking a balance between a comforting continuity from the lower grades and increased academic and artistic challenges. Students participate in multi-day trips such as biking, hiking, and kayaking, which bring hands-on experiences linked to the academic curriculum. In eighth grade, all students complete a comprehensive research project, complete with written report, artistic project, display, and oral presentation to the school community. This comprehensive approach to academics, the arts, and real-life activities prepares students well for the challenges of high school. And they take with them a healthy, inclusive approach to social relationships, as they refine their ability to work as a team and to respect each other's individuality.
- $598,264 spent. High School - When Eastside Community School developed the vision for educating children aged 14-18, we removed all constraints from our imagination and developed a program intended to educate the whole child. This freed us to individualize the student experience with a flexible schedule where educational blocks of varying length could be employed with fluid programming. By forming as a Homeschool Enrichment Program, we remain fluid and flexible in helping students to meet individualized goals. By forming a partnership with a WA state-approved umbrella school, students can also receive official credits, transcripts, and, if all graduation requirements are met, a high school diploma through our partner school for work done in our program. Helping the students to find and achieve their destiny is the basis and inspiration for our program. We take direction from the individual human beings before us who are caught in the midst of the polarities of the world process and his or her own striving to evolve according to the ideal of their own higher nature.
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 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 June 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 January 2018.
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.