Bridges Academy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
- It owes more than it owns.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 59 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
BRIDGES ACADEMY IS DEDICATED TO UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATING GIFTED AND HIGHLY GIFTED STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES (TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL OR 2E STUDENTS) AND FOSTERING A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $10.9 million
- Spending
- $11.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -12.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 93%
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $290,005, ceo/interim 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: 13 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 106% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 59 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 2516 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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)
- $9.6 million spent. BRIDGES ACADEMY IS A LOS ANGELES-BASED COLLEGE PREPARATORY, CO-EDUCATIONAL, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR GIFTED AND HIGHLY GIFTED TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS, OFFERING TWO DAY SCHOOLS, (GRADES 4-12) AND ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 9-12).BRIDGES ACADEMY PROVIDES A RIGOROUS, INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM THAT EMPHASIZES THE STRENGTHS, GIFTS, AND TALENTS OF ITS STUDENTS, WHILE PROACTIVELY OFFERING OPTIONS AND TOOLS TO ADDRESS THEIR LEARNING DIFFERENCES. OUR CORE VALUES INCLUDE EMBRACING COGNITIVE DIVERSITY, EMPHASIZING STRENGTHS AND TALENTS, EMPOWERING LEARNERS, AND ENSURING EQUITY AND ACCESS. THE SCHOOL PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)AND ITS MANY OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY STUDIES, AND ARTISTIC AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS.THE CENTER FOR TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATES AND SUPPORTS EDUCATORS AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY IN THE IDENTIFICATION, UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION OF TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS. BY SEEKING OUT AND DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES THROUGHRESEARCH, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH, AND TEACHER TRAINING, THE 2E CENTER ALLOWS DEVELOPMENT AND SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE TO BENEFIT THIS UNDERSERVED POPULATION.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.