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Lumen Academy Inc

EIN 99-1333584 · Waltham, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak22 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME LIFELONG LEARNERS, LUMEN ACADEMY FOLLOWS A CLASSICAL EDUCATION MODEL AN INTELLECTUAL, CONTENT-FOCUSED CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO THINK AND HOW TO LEARN. THIS CLASSIC EDUCATION MODEL RESTS ON THREE PILLARS GRAMMAR, LOGIC, AND RHETORIC EACH PILLAR DOMINATES A DIFFERENT STAGE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
-1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
19
Volunteers
5

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: 22 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 106% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports 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 (8)
  1. $815,904 spent. THE LUMEN ACADEMY IS AN INDEPENDENT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT SERVES APPROX. 40 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8. THE CURRICULUM OFFERS BOTH CHALLENGING AND ENGAGING SUBJECTS ALONG WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ELECTIVES THAT SPARK CURIOSITY AND PROMOTE DIVERSE INTERESTS. EXPENSES ARE ESTIMATED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS.
  2. $138,684 spent. THE LUMEN ACADEMY PRESCHOOL IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM THAT SERVES APPROX. 12 STUDENTS. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SKILLS WHILE BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE LEARNING SUCCESS. EXPENSES ARE ESTIMATED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS.
  3. $61,690 spent. FOOD - LUMEN ACADEMY PROVIDES FRESH, NOURISHING, NUTRITIONALLY DENSE FOOD TO ALL OF ITS STUDENTS. DAILY OFFERINGS INCLUDE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND VARIOUS SNACKS.
  4. Program Service Expenses 33,339, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 129,223 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - OUR WELL-ROUNDED AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM IS THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED TO SET EVERY STUDENT ON A PATH TO FUTURE SUCCESS. WE EMPHASIZE BUILDING CORE SKILLS BUT OUR DEDICATION TO EDUCATION EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ACADEMICS. EXPENSES ARE ESTIMATED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS.
  5. Program Service Expenses 5,210, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 180 FIELD TRIPS - LOCAL AND NEW YORK CITY
  6. Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 8,500 REGISTRATION FEE
  7. Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 5,227 RENTS RECEIVED - LUMEN ACADEMY OCCASIONALLY RENTS OUT CLASSROOM OR AUDITORIUM SPACE FOR EVENTS SUCH AS CLASSES OR CONCERTS. RENTS RECEIVED ARE FOR REAL PROPERTY AND ARE EXCLUDED FROM UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME UBTI CALCULATIONS. RENTS RECEIVED DO NOT REQUIRE A 990-T FILING.
  8. Program Service Expenses 0, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 500 PRIZE MONEY - LUMEN ACADEMY WON THIRD PLACE IN A NATIONAL KINDNESS ESSAY CONTEST.

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 October 2024.

    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.