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Academy for the Love of Learning Inc

EIN 86-0945282 · Santa Fe, NM

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 225 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ACADEMY'S MISSION IS TO AWAKEN, ENLIVEN, NURTURE, AND SUSTAIN THE NATURAL LOVE OF LEARNING IN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES THROUGH RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.

Income
$558,896
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
56.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 79%
Employees
10
Highest pay
$214,240, mngr, & gen.

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 56.7 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 433% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 90% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 225 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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $1.5 million spent. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: THE ACADEMY LAUNCHED ITS VIRTUAL WAGING PEACE (WP) PROGRAM LEARNING SPACE; SHARED CORE ACADEMY CURRICULUM AT IN PERSON WP GATHERINGS; COLLECTED AND SHARED WP STORIES VIA ITS COMMUNICATIONS PLATFORM; AND PARTNERED WITH UNITED WORLD COLLEGE AND OTHERS TO EXPLORE WP THROUGH ADAPTATIONS OF ACADEMY CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS. THE ACADEMY PARTNERED WITH MANDELA INTERNATIONAL MAGNET SCHOOL OFFERING CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS TO FACULTY AND STUDENTS FOR A YEAR-LONG EXPLORATION OF ACADEMY PEDAGOGY. THE ACADEMY OFFERED ITS LIFESONGS CURRICULUM TO ELDERS AT SANTA FE CARE CENTER. THE ACADEMY SHARED EXAMPLES OF TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING IN ACTION IN SEED SYLLABLES AND OTHER PROJECTS; AND DISTRIBUTED PRACTICES, SUCH AS IMPACT TRACKING, PARTNERING, AND THE IMPULSE EXERCISE.
  2. $445,298 spent. RESEARCH: THE ACADEMY'S RESEARCH CONTINUED WITH INTERNAL APPLICATION OF ITS LEARNING EXCHANGE (LE) METHODOLOGY, INCLUDING IN FACULTY AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT. THIS INCLUDED THE ACADEMY'S CONTINUED WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO INFORM AND SHAPE THE ACADEMY'S ONGOING TRANSFORMATION WITH A COMMUNICATIONS-BASED STRATEGY FOR DISSEMINATING ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND LEARNINGS.
  3. $319,235 spent. SETON: THE SETON LEGACY PROJECT CONTINUED STEWARDING THE ACADEMY'S COLLECTION OF ERNEST T. SETON ARTWORK AND LEGACY. CONTINUED ONGOING LEARNING EXCHANGE (LE) WITH NATIVE AMERICAN LEADERS IN NEW MEXICO TO BRIDGE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND TO INFORM THE ACADEMY HOW BEST TO STEWARD THE SETON LEGACY PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE. CONTINUED THE ACADEMY'S REMATRIATION OF ALL NATIVE AMERICAN CREATIONS IN SETON'S COLLECTION TO THE TRIBES TO WHICH THEY BELONG, INCLUDING 13 ITEMS IN 2025. AND PRESENTED ON THE REMATRIATIONS AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF TRIBAL ARCHIVES LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS.
  4. $69,670 spent. TRAININGS: THE ACADEMY WORKED WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT ENTITY TO INCORPORATE ACADEMY CURRICULUM IN THEIR LEARNING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROTOTYPING NEW ONLINE COURSEWORK OFFERINGS; AND DESIGNED THE CURRICULUM, FACILITATED, AND HOSTED PORTIONS OF THEIR FELLOWS PROGRAM. VENTANA: THE VENTANA PROGRAM CONTINUED A HIATUS WHILE THE ACADEMY CONSIDERED THE PROGRAM'S FUTURE.
  5. TRAININGS: THE ACADEMY WORKED WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT ENTITY TO INCORPORATE ACADEMY CURRICULUM IN THEIR LEARNING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROTOTYPING NEW ONLINE COURSEWORK OFFERINGS; AND DESIGNED THE CURRICULUM, FACILITATED, AND HOSTED PORTIONS OF THEIR FELLOWS PROGRAM. VENTANA: THE VENTANA PROGRAM CONTINUED A HIATUS WHILE THE ACADEMY CONSIDERED THE PROGRAM'S FUTURE.

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 October 13, 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 October 1999.

    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 October 21, 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.