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Friends School Inc

EIN 84-1087693 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRIEND'S SCHOOL IS A SUPPORTIVE, DYNAMIC COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD HEAD, HAND, AND HEART AND TO TRAINING EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS FOR TOMORROW'S CLASSROOMS. WE PROVIDE A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION WHILE DEVELOPING CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND NURTURING A PASSION FOR LEARNING. OUR STUDENTS GAIN A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES AND ARE INSPIRED TO ACT WITH COMPASSION AND INTEGRITY.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
83
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$270,500, head of scho

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 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    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. $3.4 million spent. EDUCATIONAL - FRIENDS SCHOOL OFFERS AN INDEPENDENT, NONSECTARIAN PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH GRADE EIGHT. WE ARE LEADERS IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING WITH A FOCUS ON MINDFULNESS PRACTICES AT ALL LEVELS. STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, EXPLORATION AND DIRECT INSTRUCTION, LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS, AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED FAMILIES. OUR PRESCHOOL OFFERS A WARM, LOVING, PLAY-BASED APPROACH, SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE EMPHASIZE AN EXPERIENTIAL AND GOLD STANDARD PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM, FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING ACADEMIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES INCLUDING: PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROVIDES THE OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY THROUGH OUR BALANCED PROGRAM THAT ENSURES HIGH SCHOOL READINESS WHILE INSPIRING STUDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. WE ALSO OFFER AFTER SCHOOL CARE, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS. OVERALL ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 140 STUDENTS. EDUCATIONAL - FRIENDS SCHOOL OFFERS AN INDEPENDENT, NONSECTARIAN PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH GRADE EIGHT. WE ARE LEADERS IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING WITH A FOCUS ON MINDFULNESS PRACTICES AT ALL LEVELS. STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, EXPLORATION AND DIRECT INSTRUCTION, LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS, AND ACTIVELY INVOLVED FAMILIES. OUR PRESCHOOL OFFERS A WARM, LOVING, PLAY-BASED APPROACH, SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE EMPHASIZE AN EXPERIENTIAL AND GOLD STANDARD PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM, FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING ACADEMIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES INCLUDING: PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROVIDES THE OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE CHALLENGED ACADEMICALLY THROUGH OUR BALANCED PROGRAM THAT ENSURES HIGH SCHOOL READINESS WHILE INSPIRING STUDENTS TO STAY ENGAGED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. WE ALSO OFFER AFTER SCHOOL CARE, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AND SUMMER CAMPS. OVERALL ENROLLMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 140 STUDENTS.
  2. $377,709 spent. TEACHER CANDIDATES - FRIENDS SCHOOL OFFERS A UNIQUE TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM TO ASPIRING TEACHERS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH PRACTICAL CLASSROOM TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND COURSEWORK THAT ENABLES THEM TO ATTAIN A COLORADO INITIAL TEACHER LICENSE, AS WELL AS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER. THIS HIGHLY REGARDED EDUCATION PROGRAM PLACES TEACHERS IN PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT BOULDER COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. WE LAUNCH APPROXIMATELY 16-24 TEACHER CANDIDATES EACH YEAR.

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 January 1991.

    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.