Acorn School
Acorn School consistently generates surpluses and has significantly reduced liabilities over the past decade.
EIN: 132569414 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $1.7M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Program Spending | 80% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $1 |
| Net Assets | $2.4M |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Acorn School Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Acorn School directs 80% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Acorn School
Acorn School (EIN: 132569414) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $1.7M and total assets of $2.5M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Acorn School's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Acorn School is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 59 years, with 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2012–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 0.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $1.6M |
| Total Expenses | $1.4M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$123K |
| Total Assets | $2.4M |
| Total Liabilities | $37K |
| Net Assets | $2.4M |
| Operating Margin | 7.9% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 1.5% |
| Months of Reserves | 20.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Acorn School reported a surplus of $123K with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 20.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 1.5% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 12 years of filings (2012–2023), Acorn School's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -5.0% | +2.8% | +6.2% |
| 2022 | +2.8% | +9.9% | +8.9% |
| 2021 | -14.7% | +0.6% | +8.9% |
| 2020 | +37.2% | +0.5% | +14.9% |
| 2019 | +9.8% | +6.4% | +4.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 2000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1967 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Acorn School with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 15%
- programs: 80%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Acorn School allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 15%, programs: 80%, fundraising: 5%. With 80% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $123K, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 1.5%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Acorn School consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is unusual for an organization with revenues exceeding $1 million annually. This could indicate a volunteer-led executive team or that compensation is reported under other expense categories, warranting further investigation for complete transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Acorn School's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of reported officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and revenue, potentially obscuring executive remuneration details.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Acorn School:
- Consistent financial surpluses, with revenue exceeding expenses in most reported periods.
- Significant reduction in liabilities from $554,885 in 2018 to $37,101 in 2023, indicating strong financial management.
- Steady growth in assets from $1,584,502 in 2014 to $2,425,730 in 2023, enhancing long-term stability.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s over 12 periods, demonstrating a commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions about Acorn School
Is Acorn School a legitimate charity?
Acorn School (EIN: 132569414) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $1.7M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: A.
How does Acorn School spend its money?
Acorn School directs 80% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 5%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Acorn School tax-deductible?
Acorn School is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132569414). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Acorn School CEO make?
Acorn School's highest-compensated officer earns $1 annually. The organization reported $1.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Acorn School's spending goes to programs?
Acorn School directs 80% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Acorn School located?
Acorn School is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 132569414.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Acorn School have?
Acorn School has 12 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $1.7M in total revenue.
How does Acorn School manage to operate without reporting any officer compensation?
The IRS 990 filings consistently show 0% officer compensation. This could mean that executive leadership is entirely volunteer-based, or that compensation is categorized differently within the expense structure, which would require reviewing the full 990 forms for detailed functional expense breakdowns.
What are the specific program activities that Acorn School funds?
Based solely on the provided financial summary, the specific program activities are not detailed. A review of the full IRS 990, particularly Part III (Statement of Program Service Accomplishments), would provide this information.
What is the organization's strategy for maintaining its consistent financial surpluses?
Acorn School has consistently generated more revenue than expenses, leading to surpluses. This indicates effective revenue generation and expense management. Further analysis of revenue sources and expense categories in the full 990s would shed more light on their strategy.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Acorn School showing financial trends over 12 years of public records:
Over 12 years of IRS 990 filings (2012–2023), Acorn School's revenue has grown by 7%, moving from $1.5M to $1.6M. Total assets increased by 79.1% over the same period, from $1.4M to $2.4M. Total functional expenses fell by 1%, from $1.5M to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Acorn School reported a surplus of $123K, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $37K in liabilities against $2.4M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 1.5%), resulting in net assets of $2.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $1.6M | $1.4M | $2.4M | $37K | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $1.6M | $1.4M | $2.3M | $38K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.6M | $1.3M | $2.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $1.9M | $1.3M | $1.9M | $152K | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $1.4M | $1.3M | $1.7M | $508K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $1.2M | $1.2M | $1.6M | $555K | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.0M | $1.2M | $1.5M | $480K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.0M | $1.1M | $1.6M | $389K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $1.6M | $379K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $1.4M | $1.3M | $1.6M | $489K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.5M | $1.3M | $1.5M | $515K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.5M | $1.5M | $1.4M | $541K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $2.4M (revenue -5.0% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $2.3M (revenue +2.8% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $2.1M (revenue -14.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.9M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.9M (revenue +37.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.7M (revenue +9.8% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $1.2M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue +18.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +0.3% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -25.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -1.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $1.4M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.6M (revenue -7.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $1.5M (revenue +4.7% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $1.5M, and assets of $1.4M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Acorn School:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Acorn School is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.