Barra School Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Our mission is to support a deepening awareness of, connection with, and utilization of the powers of nature to foster individual and collective growth, development, healing, and resiliency. We provide year-round youth workshops utilizing trauma-informed, forest-based therapeutic practices, and run summer camp and expeditionary programming, specializing in immersive group experiences for at-risk youth and youth of other underserved and marginalized populations.
- Income
- $195,135
- Spending
- $177,961
- Reserves
- -2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Highest pay
- $61,150, director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 21 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 491% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2023, 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 (1)
- $177,961 spent. We held a series of free weekend and week-long forest and wilderness therapy experiences for LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and BIPOC rural VT youth ages 9-18 from January-September, including multiple weekend overnight campouts and week-long backpacking, snowshoeing, and canoeing expeditions, serving 21 different youth and their families. We assisted with our local library's summer day camp (June/July) by providing staffing expertise, shared gear/equipment, and the use of our riverside campsite, serving 124 different youth and their families. We did not hold programming October-December.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2023, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.