Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Acorn School for Early Childhood Development

EIN 84-1150507 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR HIGHER STANDARDS IN THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
60
Highest pay
$148,850, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 August 31, 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. $2.2 million spent. THE ACORN SCHOOL OFFERS FULL-DAY, YEAR-ROUND, HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO SIX YEARS. OUR SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1994 TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES. WE BELIEVE THAT PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILL ATTAINMENT IS THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR A LIFETIME OF LEARNING. WE INCORPORATE NATURE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHILDREN'S DAILY LEARNING. WE CONTINUE TO USE BEST PRACTICES AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES TO OFFER CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND CARE THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND ACHIEVE.
  2. $113,677 spent. THE PURPOSE OF WILDERNESS EARLY LEARNING CENTER (WELC) IS TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ENROLLED AT THE ACORN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. WELC AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE ACORN SCHOOL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1995.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.