Little Gems of the Sierra Preschool Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
LITTLE GEMS OF THE SIERRA DBA TAHOE TRUCKEE WALDORF IS A COMMUNITY THAT HONORS AND NURTURES THE WHOLE CHILD -HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS BY ENGAGING THE MIND, ENLIVENING THE IMAGINATION, AND STREGTHENING THE WILL. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO OPERATE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING A CURRICULUM INSPIRED BY WALDORF EDUCATION, WITH THE ADDITIONAL GOAL OF INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY TO THESE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE CORPORATION SHALL OPERATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE THREE (3) MONTHS TO FIVE (5) YEARS OLD AS WELL AS AN ENRICHMENT CENTER FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE 4 YEARS OLD TO 14 YEARS OLD IN TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 0 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 84%
- Employees
- 49
- Volunteers
- 50
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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.0 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% 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
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 6% 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
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $1.7 million spent. LITTLE GEMS OPERATES "SCHOOLS" AS DEFINED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ("IRS"), AS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE PRESENTATION OF FORMAL INSTRUCTION, AND WHICH NORMALLY MAINTAINS A REGULAR FACULTY AND CURRICULUM AND NORMALLY HAS A REGULARLY ENROLLED BODY OF PUPILS OR STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE PLACE WHERE ITS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE REGULARLY CARRIED ON. LITTLE GEMS IS A "PUBLIC CHARITY" (AS DEFINED BY THE IRS), EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) AS A SCHOOL RECEIVING BROAD FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. LITTLE GEMS, HAVING REACHED ITS MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT FOR OUR EXISTING PRESCHOOL FACILITIES, HAS ADDED A SECOND SITE. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN AN ENRICHMENT CENTER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING CHILDREN BEYOND FIVE YEARS OF AGE. LITTLE GEMS HAS CONTINUED TO REINVEST IN HIGHER TEACHER PAY SO THAT THE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR SALARY IN OUR LOCATION. WE NOW HAVE THREE CAMPUS LOCATIONS, TWO PRESCHOOL AND ONE FOR THE TK AND UPPER GRADES. THESE LOCATIONS HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES, FURTHER DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN THE LITTLE GEMS PROGRAM, ENHANCE OUR PARENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCREASE COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS, CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN OUR TEACHERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF LITTLE GEMS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO ALL INCOME LEVELS. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED IN EXCHANGE FOR LESS EXPENSIVE CARE. THE SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH FUNDRAISING, DONATIONS, GRANTS, AND TUITION. THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS WILL FULFILL THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF LITTLE GEMS. LITTLE GEMS OPERATES "SCHOOLS" AS DEFINED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ("IRS"), AS AN EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE PRESENTATION OF FORMAL INSTRUCTION, AND WHICH NORMALLY MAINTAINS A REGULAR FACULTY AND CURRICULUM AND NORMALLY HAS A REGULARLY ENROLLED BODY OF PUPILS OR STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE PLACE WHERE ITS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE REGULARLY CARRIED ON. LITTLE GEMS IS A "PUBLIC CHARITY" (AS DEFINED BY THE IRS), EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) AS A SCHOOL RECEIVING BROAD FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. LITTLE GEMS, HAVING REACHED ITS MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT FOR OUR EXISTING PRESCHOOL FACILITIES, HAS ADDED A SECOND SITE. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN AN ENRICHMENT CENTER TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING CHILDREN BEYOND FIVE YEARS OF AGE. LITTLE GEMS HAS CONTINUED TO REINVEST IN HIGHER TEACHER PAY SO THAT THE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON THEIR SALARY IN OUR LOCATION. WE NOW HAVE THREE CAMPUS LOCATIONS, TWO PRESCHOOL AND ONE FOR THE TK AND UPPER GRADES. THESE LOCATIONS HAVE ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES, FURTHER DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN THE LITTLE GEMS PROGRAM, ENHANCE OUR PARENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, INCREASE COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS, CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN OUR TEACHERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY CREATE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY OF LITTLE GEMS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO ALL INCOME LEVELS. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED IN EXCHANGE FOR LESS EXPENSIVE CARE. THE SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED THROUGH FUNDRAISING, DONATIONS, GRANTS, AND TUITION. THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS WILL FULFILL THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF LITTLE GEMS.
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 April 2020.
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.
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