Masters School
501(c)(3) Donations tax-deductible
84% goes to programs $33 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Masters School is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Dobbs Ferry, New York, registered in 1925, with $54,770,376 in FY2023 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 84% of spending to programs.
49 Clinton Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY, 10522 EIN 13-1740472 Since 1925
Revenue (FY2023)
$54.8M
▼ 18.2% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2023)
$52.5M
Net assets
$181.6M
Employees
350
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating84% to programs · $33 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Masters School: 84% to programs · $33 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating41 mo reserves · +4% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Masters School: 41 mo reserves · +4% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Masters School: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Masters School: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The masters school celebrates active participation, deep understanding, and meaningful connection. a community of diverse individuals, we gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do - to be a power for good in the world.
What they do
Effect: sustainability at masterseffect is the student-run sustainability committee at the masters school. its mission is to find ways to incorporate sustainable practices into our school, to utilize our beautiful 96-acre campus to its fullest potential, and to engage the entire school community in these efforts.students at the masters school define sustainability as the careful management and wide use of the planet and its resources. it is the ability to meet present needs without compromising the survival of future generations. more simply, sustainability is being green.effect students are divided into six key groups that focus on issues such as waste reduction, recycling, sustainable use of land, energy conservation and cross-disciplinary integration of sustainable practices in the curriculum. mish: service learning at mastersmish is how service learning is brought to life at masters. mish stands for "masters interested in sharing and helping." what it really represents is a distinctive ethos of generosity, thoughtfulness and community involvement that pervades the masters school.students have the opportunity to apply what they learn in school to the world around them through service learning. we do not require students to complete a certain number of hours of service before graduation; rather, our students contribute to the school and greater community because they are inspired and understand the many rewards of giving.
Contact & location
- Address
- 49 Clinton Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY, 10522
- City
- Dobbs Ferry
- State
- New York
- Category
- —
- Subcategory
- —
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $35.1M (FY2013) to $54.8M (FY2023) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2023)
Liabilities $37.3MNet assets $181.6M
Operating margin
4.1%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$218.8M
Total liabilities
$37.3M
Net assets
$181.6M
Salaries & benefits
$27.0M
51% of expenses
Board members
23
23 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $54,770,376▼18.2% | $52,507,188▲8.6% | $181,566,095▲5.7% | $218,849,490▲4.9% | 990 |
| 2022 | $66,925,521▲12.7% | $48,360,208▲3.2% | $171,834,144▲14.8% | $208,645,944▲4.3% | 990 |
| 2021 | $59,400,314▲17.0% | $46,840,065▲15.2% | $149,729,459▲0.3% | $200,048,054▲7.0% | 990 |
| 2020 | $50,762,923▼16.4% | $40,658,238▼2.7% | $149,291,817▲10.6% | $186,890,779▲8.7% | 990 |
| 2019 | $60,700,540▲31.4% | $41,793,828▼0.3% | $135,000,653▲16.0% | $171,952,059▲9.5% | 990 |
| 2018 | $46,200,236▼14.5% | $41,914,553▲2.1% | $116,401,191▲4.1% | $157,095,020▲3.0% | 990 |
| 2017 | $54,060,052▲31.1% | $41,042,132▲8.1% | $111,771,606▲13.8% | $152,477,356▲12.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $41,244,116▲4.9% | $37,976,593▲8.8% | $98,205,114▲8.2% | $136,089,857▲3.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $39,327,724▼22.7% | $34,910,857▲2.4% | $90,753,999▲3.1% | $131,139,444▼0.1% | 990 |
| 2014 | $50,877,435▲44.9% | $34,083,881▲8.8% | $88,020,513▲21.7% | $131,267,349▲17.6% | 990 |
| 2013 | $35,102,697 | $31,338,428▲10.7% | $72,353,351▲9.7% | $111,612,367▲7.7% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $28,308,625▲8.5% | $65,972,367▲10.9% | $103,677,816▲26.9% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $26,093,944▲4.8% | $59,467,478▲11.6% | $81,675,561▲8.8% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $24,889,023▲3.7% | $53,294,919▲21.5% | $75,101,248▲14.1% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $23,991,631 | $43,859,237 | $65,801,080 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2023)
Highest-paid: Laura Danforth — $668,101 (1.27% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Danforth | Head of School | 40 | $668,101 |
| Andrew Schneider | Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $301,527 |
| Seth Marx | Associate Head of School | 40 | $293,996 |
| Daniel Pereira | Director of Operations | 40 | $197,142 |
| Emma Katznelson | Director of Enrollment Manager | 40 | $191,011 |
| Tasha Elsbach | Head of Middle School | 40 | $185,795 |
| Savage Samuel | Associate Head For Faculty and Academics | 40 | $163,589 |
| Allison Moore | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Asema Ahmed | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Beth Nolan | Chair | 1 | — |
| Brooke Nalle | Trustee (outgoing) | 1 | — |
| Christina Masters Jones | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Dana W Oliver | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Edgar M Masters | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Edith C Chapin | Chair (outgoing) | 2 | — |
| Hannah Miller | Trustee (outgoing) | 1 | — |
| Hillary A Peckham | Trustee (outgoing) | 1 | — |
| Jodi Binnerfield | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jonathan Resnick | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Katherine A Henry | Treasurer | 2 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2023)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Community Counselling Service Co LLC | Consulting | $370,063 |
| Marvel Architects Pllc | Architect Services | $359,355 |
Grants received · $7.9M total
90 grants to Masters School totaling $7.9M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayco Charitable Foundation | Education | 2024 | $125,100 |
| Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc | Unrestricted general support | 2024 | $105,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2024 | $35,500 |
| Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund For Wealth Management Inc | Education | 2024 | $32,000 |
| The Rhode Island Community Foundation | Edu - educational success (primary) | 2024 | $26,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc | General operational support | 2024 | $20,000 |
| The Us Charitable Gift Trust | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2024 | $13,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | General support | 2024 | $6,832 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America | Charitable donation | 2024 | $6,500 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program | For recipient's exempt purpose | 2023 | $536,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | For grant recipient's exempt purposes | 2023 | $130,677 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Education | 2023 | $91,400 |
| National Philanthropic Tr | Education | 2023 | $88,800 |
| The Rhode Island Community Foundation | Educational success | 2023 | $54,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund | In furtherance of grantee's tax-exempt purpose | 2023 | $15,500 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Masters School a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Masters School is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 13-1740472, based in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Masters School's EIN?
- Masters School's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 13-1740472.
- How much revenue does Masters School report?
- Masters School reported $54,770,376 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2023 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Masters School's spending goes to programs?
- Masters School spends about 84% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Masters School have?
- CharityIndex grades Masters School A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Masters School's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Masters School's latest Form 990 is $668,101, paid to Laura Danforth (Head of School).
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Data for Masters School (EIN 13-1740472) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.