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Donum Dei Classical Academy

EIN 83-2882871 · San Francisco, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DONUM DEI EQUIPS STUDENTS TO BE VIRTUOUS SCHOLARS AND SERVANT-LEADERS WHO ARE KNOWN, LOVED, AND FORMED THROUGH A RIGOROUS CLASSICAL, CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION GROUNDED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
40
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$3,968, board member

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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (4)
  1. $849,070 spent. GRAMMAR SCHOOL - THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL AT DONUM DEI FOCUSES ON BOTH STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND CURRICULAR PRACTICES AS WE SEEK TO NOURISH THE MINDS, HEARTS, AND BODIES OF OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. BEGINNING WITH 1ST GRADE AND EXTENDING THROUGH 5TH GRADE, STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES AND CORE KNOWLEDGE OF EACH SUBJECT USING CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PEDAGOGY.
  2. $213,082 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM (TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN) LAYS FOUNDATIONS THROUGH CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN PEDAGOGY. WE NURTURE YOUNG MINDS WITH RICH LITERATURE, SENSORY EXPERIENCES, AND PLAYFUL DISCOVERY THAT HONOR EACH CHILD'S NATURAL CURIOSITY. STUDENTS ENGAGE WITH FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH SONGS, MOVEMENT, AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, CULTIVATING WONDER AND JOY IN LEARNING. IN THESE FORMATIVE YEARS, WE EMPHASIZE CHARACTER VIRTUES WITHIN A CHRIST-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT THAT PREPARES STUDENTS FOR BOTH ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
  3. $133,039 spent. LOGIC SCHOOL - THE LOGIC SCHOOL (6TH-8TH GRADES) AT DONUM DEI IS A SPIRITUALLY ROBUST AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE LOGIC PHASE OF CLASSICAL EDUCATION IS WHERE STUDENTS BEGIN TO USE REASON TO MAKE SENSE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES. MOVING ON FROM THE SONGS AND CHANTS THAT ARE USED AS TOOLS TO COMMIT KNOWLEDGE TO MEMORY DURING THE GRAMMAR PHASE, STUDENTS BEGIN TO ENGAGE IN SOCRATIC DISCUSSIONS AND DEBATE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TURN TOWARD WONDER ABOUT THE THINGS THEY ARE LEARNING. WE HELP GUIDE STUDENTS AS THEY DEVELOP THAT SENSE OF WONDER AND GROW THEIR ABILITY TO DEVELOP SOUND REASONING BASED ON WHAT THEY KNOW OF GOD'S TRUTH.
  4. $250,857 spent. ENRICHMENT CLASSES, STUDENT LIFE, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/NETWORKING, EVENTS

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since February 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Classical Academy Incorporated (Escondido, CA), EIN 33-0857665. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.