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Vail Mountain School

EIN 84-0533775 · Vail, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE INSPIRE TOMORROW'S ETHICAL LEADERS BY DEVELOPING CHARACTER, SEEKING KNOWLEDGE, AND BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF LIFELONG LEARNERS FROM THE HEART OF THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS TO THE WORLD BEYOND.

Income
$18.1 million
Spending
$17.4 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
153
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$261,314, head of school and directo

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 49% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 20 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (2)
  1. $14.1 million spent. VAIL MOUNTAIN SCHOOL PROVIDES A SOUND ACADEMIC EDUCATION IN A DYNAMIC EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO APPROXIMATELY 375 STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE. THE SCHOOL ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL EXPLORATION AND INTERPERSONAL GROWTH THROUGH ITS MANY CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS
  2. $37,150 spent. SUMMERQUEST IS A SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EAGLE COUNTY WITH GREAT POTENTIAL, BUT WHO ARE IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND POSITIVE ROLE MODELS. NOT ONLY IS IT A WAY FOR VMS TO GIVE BACK TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES TO MENTOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE ASPIRING EDUCATORS. EACH JULY, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS STUDY MATH, READING, SPELLING, WRITING, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, WHILE ALSO PLAYING GAMES, ATTENDING CULTURAL EVENTS, AND BONDING. STUDENTS ARE NOMINATED BY TEACHERS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TYPICALLY ENTER THE PROGRAM IN SIXTH GRADE AND STAY THROUGH THE END OF THE SESSION FOLLOWING THEIR EIGHTH GRADE YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO INSPIRE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE STUDENTS AND EQUIP THEM WITH THE ACADEMIC SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

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 December 1970.

    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.

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.