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Punahou School

EIN 99-0073523 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN 2023, PUNAHOU REVEALED ITS RENEWED MISSION AND VALUES STATEMENT. IT READS AS FOLLOWS: WE ARE CHILDREN OF KA PUNAHOU, THE NEW SPRING.FROM UNDER THE HALA TREE, WE WEAVE A MAT THAT SEATS MANY, OUR HOME TO DREAM AND DISCOVER OUR PURPOSE AND KULEANA TO HAWAI'I AND THE WORLD. OUR VALUES- CHILDREN OF THE NEW SPRING -- WE DEVELOP SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL VALUES THAT AFFIRM THE WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERYONE, INSPIRED BY OUR HAWAIIAN AND CHRISTIAN HERITAGE. - DREAM AND DISCOVER -- WE INSPIRE A LOVE FOR LEARNING, INNOVATION, AND EXPLORATION FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH LIFE, EMPOWERING ALL TO DISCOVER THEIR GIFTS AND PASSIONS. - PURPOSE AND KULEANA -- WE COMMIT TO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND KULEANA AS CENTRAL TENETS OF OUR LARGER PUBLIC PURPOSE TO CREATE A JUST, COMPASSIONATE, AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD. - A MAT THAT SEATS MANY -- WE WELCOME ALL TO REALIZE THE FULL EXPRESSION OF THEMSELVES, KNOWING THAT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE OUR SOURCE OF STRENGTH.

Income
$171.3 million
Spending
$153.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
13.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
2,057
Volunteers
1,875
Highest pay
$747,827, president

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

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    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 (3)
  1. $107.3 million spent. PUNAHOU SCHOOL IS A COEDUCATIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. PUNAHOU OFFERS EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE WITH MORE THAN 99 PERCENT OF GRADUATES ATTENDING COLLEGE. PUNAHOU IS DIVIDED INTO THE JUNIOR SCHOOL (KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 8) WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,000 STUDENTS AND THE ACADEMY (GRADES 9-12) WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,700 STUDENTS. THE JUNIOR SCHOOL IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SELF-CONTAINED SECTIONS TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS OF CHILDREN: OMIDYAR K-1 NEIGHBORHOOD, KOSASA COMMUNITY FOR GRADES 2-5, AND CASE MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR GRADES 6-8. ACADEMY CLASSROOM SIZE AVERAGES 18-22 STUDENTS. ACADEMY STUDENTS CAN CUSTOMIZE THEIR MIX OF CLASSES FROM AN EXTENSIVE CATALOG OF COURSES WITHIN A MODULAR SCHEDULE. COLLEGE PREPARATORY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE CREDITS IN ENGLISH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATHEMATICS, LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.STUDENTS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE OTHER INTERESTS AND BUILD SKILLS BEYOND THOSE DEVELOPED IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PUNAHOU'S ACADEMIC CENTERS AND VARIOUS INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE CASE ACCELERATOR FOR STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CASE), DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING, KUAIHELANI CENTER FOR 'IKE HAWAII, LUKE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, AND THE WO INTERNATIONAL CENTER. THESE ACADEMIC CENTERS AND INITIATIVES OFFER MENTORSHIP, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN AREAS SUCH AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP, HAWAIIAN STUDIES, AND CIVIC AND GLOBAL EDUCATION. STUDENTS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS WILL RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL DISTINCTION ON THEIR TRANSCRIPTS.
  2. $3.1 million spent. SUMMER SCHOOL OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT, AND TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS. AT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL LEVEL (GRADES K-8), MOST SUMMER COURSES ARE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE U.S. MAINLAND, AND ABROAD. ACADEMY SUMMER COURSES ARE TYPICALLY CREDIT-BEARING AND ARE ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT OR INCOMING PUNAHOU STUDENTS. THE ACADEMY COURSES OFFERED COVER A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, AS WELL AS SPORTS AND THE ARTS.
  3. $18.5 million spent. CO-CURRICULAR AND OTHER PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND REGULAR SCHOOL DAY. CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE, TENNIS, AND PUNAHOU AQUATICS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE SPECIAL INTEREST CLUBS, HOLOKU PAGEANT, SPEECH AND DEBATE, AND ROBOTICS. THESE CO-CURRICULAR AND OTHER PROGRAMS ALLOW STUDENTS TO DEEPLY ENGAGE IN LEARNING THROUGH COURSES RANGING FROM RECREATION AND EXPLORATION TO ACTIVE INQUIRY, REFLECTION, AND THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES. THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND DEVELOP VALUES, QUALITIES, AND SKILLS THAT ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PUNAHOU EXPERIENCE. OVER 70% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE 23 SPORTS PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 150 TEAMS. PUNAHOU IS A MEMBER OF THE HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (HHSAA) AND THE INTER-SCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU (ILH). FOR MANY STUDENTS, PUNAHOU BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL; IT SERVES AS A COMMUNITY, A PLACE WHICH PROVIDES A LARGE PART OF THEIR TOTAL ENVIRONMENT.

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 April 1938.

    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.