Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Spalding Education International

EIN 86-0545771 · Phoenix, AZ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INCREASE LITERACY FOR ALL CHILDREN AND ADULTS BY USING THE SPALDING METHOD TO DEVELOP SKILLED READERS, CRITICAL LISTENERS, AND ACCOMPLISHED WRITERS AND SPELLERS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.7 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
22.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 46%
Employees
52
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$136,618, ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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 December 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 (3)
  1. $889,639 spent. CURRICULUM AND PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS CONSIST OF CONTINUALLY MONITORING AND EVALUATING THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PRODUCTS AND COURSES. NEW PRODUCTS AND IMPROVED INSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES ARE INTRODUCED PERIODICALLY. THE SPALDING RESOURCE CENTER CONTINUES TO BE UPGRADED AND IS A MAJOR SOURCE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, DOWNLOADABLE PRACTICE MATERIAL, DIGITAL CLASSIC & READING FOUNDATION TEACHER GUIDES AND THE NEW ORAL READING FLUENCY TEACHER MANUAL. THE SPALDING ACADEMY MOBILE APP LAUNCHED IN 2025. ALSO DURING 2025, THE PROGRAM RECEIVED APPROVAL AS A TIER I INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
  2. $241,969 spent. SPALDING, IN COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHERS, PROVIDES TEACHERS AND HOME EDUCATORS WITH TRAINING THAT IS PRACTICAL, AND WITH SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM AND AT HOME. DURING 2025, MORE THAN FOUR NEW LOCATIONS WERE WELCOMED TO THE SPALDING FAMILY AND BOTH COURSES WERE APPROVED FOR UNIVERSITY CREDITS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE.
  3. $185,791 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INVOLVES IDENTIFYING THOSE TEACHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING CERTIFIED, ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES, AND EFFICIENTLY MOVING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF SPALDING CERTIFICATION IS TO DEVELOP HIGHLY-QUALIFIED SPALDING CERTIFIED PERSONNEL WHO ARE DEDICATED TO INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH USE OF THE SPALDING METHOD. DURING 2025, THE ORGANIZATION INTRODUCED DIGITAL DECODABLES AND RULE VIDEOS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 August 1987.

    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.