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Gooden School

EIN 95-2975420 · Sierra Madre, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE SPECIFIC AND PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CONDUCT AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF LESS THAN COLLEGIATE GRADES OR LEVEL, WHICH SHALL SUPPLY ADEQUATE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO PREPARE SELECTED CHILDREN FOR ENTRANCE TO COLLEGE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH ACCORDING TO THE DOCTRINES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITES ESPECIALLY DESIGNED TO STIMULATE THE EXERCISE OF NATURAL GIFTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP.

Income
$5.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
68
Volunteers
67
Highest pay
$182,001, head of school (until 06/2025)

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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. $3.8 million spent. THE GOODEN SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN SIERRA MADRE, CALIFORNIA AND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975 AS AN INDEPENDENT EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL. THE GOODEN SCHOOL IS A CO-EDUCATIONAL, DAY SCHOOL THAT IS ACCREDITED BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIAION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, AND THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES COMMISSION ON SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EPISCOPAL SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL'S MOTTO, "RESPECT FOR SELF, RESPECT FOR OTHERS, AND RESPECT FOR THE WORLD" (THE 3RS) GUIDES THE INTERACTIONS OF ALL ADULTS AND CHILDREN ON CAMPUS AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND SUPPORTS THE SCHOOL'S MISSION. THE GOODEN SCHOOL INSPIRES STUDENTS TO BE INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS AND RESILIENT WHILE PREPARING THEM TO LEAD LIVES OF KINDNESS, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT. THE SCHOOL IS INTENTIONALLY SMALL, WITH ONE CLASS PER GRADE, RECRUITS AND RETAINS EXCELLENT FACULTY THROUGH A COMPETITIVE SALARY AND BENEFITS PACKAGE, AND OFFERS A VERY RICH CURRICULUM THAT ENCOURAGES COLLABORATION AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. THE COMMUNITY IS DYNAMIC; IT HAS MANY SPECIAL EVENTS AND TRADITIONS, CHAPEL SERVICES, AND SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN COCURRICULAR CLASSES, SUCH AS ART, MUSIC (CHORAL AND INSTRUMENTAL), PE, DRAMA, ELECTIVE CLASSES, FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND STEM, AND THERE ARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AS WELL. GOODEN GRADUATES ARE LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES; THEY LISTEN ACTIVELY, THEY ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEY WORK COLLABORATIVELY AND CREATIVELY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THE GOODEN SCHOOL SERVED APPROXIMATELY 200 STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE DURING THE YEAR. THE SCHOOL GRADUATED 27 STUDENTS AND ACCEPTED 34 STUDENTS.

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 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 November 6, 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 July 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 1975.

    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 November 4, 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.