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Montessori of Maui Inc

EIN 99-0223419 · Makawao, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 57 cents.

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

What it says it does

THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MAUI PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD INTO ADOLESCENCE BY FOLLOWING THE PRINCIPLES, SPIRIT AND PHILOSOPHY OF DR. MARIA MONTESSORI'S METHOD OF EDUCATION. THIS APPROACH FEATURES A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO STIMULATE EACH STUDENT'S CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, CULTIVATE INQUISITIVE MINDS AND EMPOWER CHILDREN TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT OF THE TWENTY- FIRST CENTURY.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
67
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$148,901, head of scho

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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 57 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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 (5)
  1. $1.6 million spent. THE TODDLER & PRIMARY PROGRAM SERVED 108 CHILDREN AGED 18 MONTHS THRU 6 YEARS OLD. WE HAVE ONE TODDLER CLASSROOM AND FOUR PRIMARY CLASSROOMS. IN THIS SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT, YOUNG CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE AND CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AS THEY DEVELOP INTO INDEPENDENT HUMAN BEINGS. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS CHILDREN IN MOVING TOWARDS MASTERY OF SELF AND THE ENVIRONMENT. A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES ENGAGE THE CHILDREN AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF ABILITIES AND MATURITY, AND FACILITATE THE MONTESSORI GOALS OF INDIVIDUAL WORK, TIMELY PROGRESS, INDEPENDENCE, AND SOCIAL AWARENESS.
  2. $1.9 million spent. THE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM SERVED 129 STUDENTS AGES 7 THRU 12 YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE LOWER ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS AND TWO UPPER ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS. THE PROGRAM OPERATES FROM THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AN IMPORTANT CHALLENGE AT THIS DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE IS FOR CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THEIR PLACE WITHIN A GROUP AND WITHIN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE WITHIN GROUPS, WITH CHILDREN SHARING, COLLABORATING AND PASSIONATELY EXPLORING MATERIAL TOGETHER. THE SOUNDS OF DEBATE, DISCUSSION, AND DISAGREEMENT FILL THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS. OUR STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVESTIGATE AND FULFILL THEIR NATURAL CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
  3. $208,831 spent. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 15 STUDENTS AGES 12 THRU 14 YEARS. ADOLESCENCE IS A POWERFUL AGE, AN AGE OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AND CHANGE ON ALL LEVELS-PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THE TREMENDOUS POWER AND POTENTIAL OF THIS AGE AND PROVIDES A NURTURING ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, WHICH POSITIVELY SUPPORTS AND CHALLENGES ADOLESCENTS. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO SATISFY A TEENAGER'S COMMANDING NEEDS: THE NEED TO WORK AT ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE MEANING AND THAT EDUCATE; THE NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS; AND THE NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE LAND. UPON GRADUATION FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, EACH STUDENT IS EXPOSED TO AND WELL VERSED IN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS COMMON TO PRE-COLLEGIATE CURRICULUM.
  4. $189,746 spent. EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM AND OTHER RELATED FUNCTIONS.
  5. EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM AND OTHER RELATED FUNCTIONS.

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 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 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 March 1984.

    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.