Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Marlborough School

EIN 95-2816435 · Los Angeles, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 76 cents.

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

What it says it does

MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL, FOUNDED IN 1889, IS AN INDEPENDENT, URBAN DAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN. THE SCHOOL DELIVERS A SUPERIOR COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION TO APPROXIMATELY 550 STUDENTS.

Income
$39.2 million
Spending
$47.4 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
349
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$901,475, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 76 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 June 30, 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. $40.7 million spent. MARLBOROUGH SCHOOL, FOUNDED IN 1889, IS AN INDEPENDENT, URBAN DAY SCHOOL SERVING A DIVERSE GROUP OF YOUNG WOMEN, GRADES 7 THROUGH 12. THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN THE HANCOCK PARK AREA OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. THE SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING A SUPERIOR COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION IN AN ENVIRONMENT IMBUED WITH HIGH ETHICAL VALUES. MARLBOROUGH'S VISION OF THE FUTURE IS A WORLD WHERE EQUITY LEADS EDUCATION. BY CREATING THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH LEARNING SPARKS PURPOSE, MARLBOROUGH BOLDLY SEEKS TO REDEFINE EXCELLENCE AND HELP INSPIRE ITS STUDENTS TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE, TO ENGAGE DEEPLY IN THEIR STUDIES, TO EMBRACE THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND TO LEAD LIVES OF PURPOSE. DURING THE 2024-2025 YEAR, THE SCHOOL HAD APPROXIMATELY 550 STUDENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 May 1962.

    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.