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Santa Fe Preparatory School

EIN 85-0165745 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SANTA FE PREPARATORY SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL, GRADES 7 THROUGH 12, DEDICTAED TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$34.5 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
155
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$351,231, 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 7% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 58% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 98% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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 18% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (2)
  1. $8.3 million spent. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 330 STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 12. THE SCHOOL ALSO HOSTS THE EE FORD SUMMER TEACHERS COLLOQUIUM SERVING APPROXIMATELY 40 TEACHERS.
  2. $23.1 million spent. DAVIS NEW MEXICO SCHOLARS AND BREAKTHROUGH SANTA FE (BREAKTHROUGH): BREAKTHROUGH IS A PREP PROGRAM THAT ASSIST STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 12 FROM UNDERSERVED PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BECOME THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO GO TO COLLEGE. STUDENTS COMMIT TO THE PROGRAM FOR 6 YEARS AND PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER PROGRAMMING, SCHOOL YEAR SUPPORT, AND ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE COUNSELING. BREAKTHROUGH SANTA FE ALSO PARTNERS WITH THE SHELBY CULLOM DAVIS CHARITABLE FUND, INC. TO ADMINISTER AND AWARD FULL-TUITION COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE DAVIS NEW MEXICO SCHOLARS PROGRAM (DAVIS NEW MEXICO). AS OF JUNE 30, 2024, APPROXIMATELY 137 DAVIS NEW MEXICO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE ENROLLED IN 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 September 1963.

    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.