Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Walden Foundation Inc

EIN 94-1464735 · Berkeley, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair60 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WALDEN CENTER AND SCHOOL IS AN INDEPENDENT , K-6 SCHOOL WHERE DRAMA, MUSIC AND ART SIT ALONGSIDE TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SUBJECTS AS OUR CORE CURRICULUM. WALDEN'S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION INCORPORATES THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES (SCH O):INTEGRATING ARTS AND ACADEMICS-ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF EVERY CHILD'S EDUCATION. ENCOURAGING THE WHOLE CHILD- CHILDREN LEARN BEST WHEN THEIR ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED CONCURRENTLY. SEEING CHILDREN AS INDIVIDUALS- IN DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING CURRICULA, WE TAKE AN INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH IN ORDER TO MEET EACH CHILD WHERE HE OR SHE IS DEVELOPMENTALLY. TEACHING AS A COLLECTIVE- THE TEACHERS RUN THE SCHOOL, WHICH PROVIDES THEM WITH AUTONOMY AND FLEXIBILITY IN THE CLASSROOM AND DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL-WIDE DECISION MAKING. OUR APPROACH TO LEARNING ENCOURAGES CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, AND CRITICAL THINKING AS MEANS TO HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING, A STRONG SENSE OF COMMMUNITY.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
11 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
31
Volunteers
156
Highest pay
$80,229, foundation member

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

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    4 of 8 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

    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 July 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. WALDEN IS AN ARTS-INTEGRATED, PROGRESSIVE, TEACHER-RUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. OUR CURRICULUM COMBINES DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE EXPECTATIONS WITH CHALLENGING UNITS OF STUDY. THE SCHOOL'S ENVIRONMENT ENHANCES EACH CHILD'S ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL GROWTH. EXTENDED DAY-CARE IS ALSO PROVIDED. PARENTS AND EDUCATORS FOUNDED WALDEN CENTER AND SCHOOL IN 1958 TO CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT TREATS ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF EVERY CHILD'S ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. WALDEN PROVIDED 26% OF ITS STUDENTS FINANCIAL AID. THERE WERE 73 STUDENTS ENROLLED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 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 July 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 March 1961.

    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.