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Passes our checks

Snow Lion Preschool

EIN 87-4626053 · Boulder, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SERVE, GUIDE AND SUPPORT FAMILIES THROUGH THEIR CHILDRENS' FIRST SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. WE VALUE CONNECTION AND PLAY ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND WE SEEK TO UNDERSTAND EACH CHILD AS A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL WHO LEARNS (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND EXPERIENCES THE WORLD IN THEIR OWN STYLE AND AT THEIR OWN PACE, FORMING CONNECTIONS AND DEVELOPING TRUST IN THEIR OWN WAYS.SUCH EXPERIENCES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: SEPARATION, DEVELOPING TRUST WITH TEACHERS, ACCEPTING THE FULL RANGE OF CHILDRENS' EMOTIONS AND ACTIONS, FOSTERING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.SNOW LION PRESCHOOL SERVES CHILDREN AGES 17 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS OLD IN MIXED AGE CLASSES - A TODDLER CLASS, AND A PRESCHOOL AGED CLASS.

Income
$818,163
Spending
$545,142
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
11
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$81,211, executive director/president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    3 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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, 2024, 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)
  1. $536,670 spent. SNOW LION PRESCHOOL SERVED 47 CHILDREN WITH QUALITY TEACHING, GUIDING AND SUPPORT AS THEY ENGAGED IN THEIR FIRST SOCIAL EXPERIENCES AND CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY AND NAVIGATE THEIR EMOTIONS. WE GRADUATED 16 CHILDREN WHO ARE PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN KINDERGARTEN WITH THE STAMINA, CONFIDENCE, AND SELF-AWARENESS NECESSARY TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL. EACH GRADUATE GAINED ABILITIES TO SELF-REGULATE, ASK FOR HELP, COMMUNICATE, PROBLEM SOLVE AND MORE. WE PREPARED 31 CHILDREN TO MOVE INTO THEIR NEXT YEAR OF PRESCHOOL WITH TRUST, COMFORT, A BUDDING SENSE OF EMOTIONAL AWARENESS AND A DEVELOPING SENSE OF SELF, OTHERS AND PEER INTERACTIONS.WE GUIDED OUR PARENT COMMUNITY AND EQUIPPED IT WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THEIR CHILDREN'S SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO GIVE THEMSELVES GRACE AS THEY LEARN WITH THEIR CHILDREN.SNOW LION PRESCHOOL CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PARENTS AND CHILDREN YEAR TO YEAR WITH HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS, LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIOS (6:1 OR 7:1), STRONG DEDICATION TO CONNECTIONS, PROCESS OVER PRODUCT, EMPATHY AND PLAY. OUR SCHOOL IS WHOLLY COMMITTED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND A STRONG COMMUNITY BOND. WE'RE FULLY ENROLLED FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A LONG WAITING LIST OF FAMILIES EAGER TO JOIN.IN THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR (AUGUST 2024 START) WE GRANTED TUITION ASSISTANCE TOTALING $39,249 TO SEVEN FAMILIES THAT REQUESTED AND QUALIFIED FOR IT THROUGH OUR FACTS TUITION ASSISTANCE CALCULATOR. OUR ANNUAL APPEAL RAISED $10,250.49 FOR CURRICULUM MATERIALS AND TEACHER SUPPORT. ACCESS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US. IN ADDITION TO TUITION ASSISTANCE, WE OFFER ACCESS TO CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES INCLUDING FRAGILE X SYNDROME, FOX-P1 AND OTHER DELAYS. WE OFFERED SPEECH AND VISION SCREENINGS, AND WE REFERRED SEVERAL CHILDREN FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EVALUATIONS. WE HAVE SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS PROVIDE SERVICES TO STUDENTS WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 2022.

    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.