DESERT MONTESSORI SCHOOL

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1994

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

H LANE KNEEDLER

Phone

5059828212

Tax Period

2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

DESERT MONTESSORI SCHOOL, founded in 1994, is a community nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $1.3M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue grew 19% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion. The organization ran a surplus of $214K, a strong 17% operating margin.

Mission

THE MISSION OF DESERT MONTESSORI SCHOOL (DMS) IS TO PROVIDE A PERSONALIZED, ENGAGING, EDICUATOIN THAT INSPIRES A LIFE-LONG LOVE OF LEARNING, FOSTERS MEANINFUL, INDEPENDENT THINKING, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SELF CONFIDENCE. UTILIZING THE MONTESSORI APPROACH AND VALUES, ALONG WITH BEST PRACTICES, DMS SHINES AS AN INSPIRING, RESPECTFUL, SAFE AND CARING COMMUNITY FOR EVERY STUDENT, PARENT AND TEACHER. DMS IS A ECECD-LICENSED, TWO-STAR FACILITY. WE ENROLL STUDENTS BEGINNING AT AGE TWO (2) AND OFFER ENROLLMENT THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $900,524 Revenue: $994,806

DESERT MONTESSORI INTEGRATES THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY WITH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOMS. WE HONOR INDIVIDUAL...

DESERT MONTESSORI INTEGRATES THE MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY WITH RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES. OUR STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS CLASSROOMS. WE HONOR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING STYLES WHILE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS, AIMING TO EMPOWEROURSTUDENTS WITH AGENCY, CREATIVITY AND INTEGRITY OUR PROGRAMIS BASED UPON MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES AND VALUES. TEACHERS THOUGHTFULLY PREPARE ENGAGING ENVIRONMENTS AND GUIDE CHILDREN TO LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL. WE USE SEQUENCES OF PROGRESSIVELY MORE CHALLENGING WORK, WHICH ALLOWS CHILDREN TO BUILD INDEPENDENCE, LEADING TO A STRONG SENSE OF JOY, AGENCY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE MATERIALS AND LESSONS ARE DESIGNED TO LEAD A CHILD FROM THE SIMPLE TO THE COMPLEX, FROM CONCRETE TO ABSTRACT CONCEPTS. OUR CLASSROOMS CULTIVATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE, RESPECT AND COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE INSTILL A LOVE OF NATURE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS CHILDREN BEGIN TO QUESTION AND INTEGRATE THEIR PURPOSE AND PLACE WITHIN THE FAMILY, SCHOOL AND BROADER COMMUNITY. WE ARE AN AWARD-WINNING SCHOOL WITH BETWEEN A 5:1 AND 8:1 TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO, A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, AND A RICH SPECIALS PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES ART, NATURE, AND SPANISH. 98% OF OUR 6TH GRADE GRADUATES HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE, INCLUDING SANTA FE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, SANTA FE WALDORF, AND THE ACADEMY FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES AND CLASSICS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $232,155

Program Service Revenue $994,806

Investment Income $0

Other Revenue $56,472

TOTAL REVENUE $1,283,433

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $0

Salaries & Benefits $821,134

Fundraising Expenses $59,554

Program Expenses $900,524

Other Expenses $247,971

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,069,105

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$1,283,433	$1,079,623	+0.2%
Expenses	$1,069,105	$1,105,383	0.0%
Net Income	$214,328	$-25,760	-9.3%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✗ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

N/A

Employees

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✗ Conflict of Interest Policy

✗ Whistleblower Policy

✗ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✓ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

Total Directors

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
TONY ANDRADE	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BIANCA BARELA	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
JOSH CHAFFIN	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
TRAVIS DEGIORGIS	DIRECTOR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
H LANE KNEEDLER	BOARD CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	No data	No data	No data	No data
2024	$1,283,433	$1,069,105	$561,648	$214,328
2023	$1,079,623	$1,105,383	$315,978	$-25,760
2022	$1,134,147	$874,009	$343,672	$260,138
2021	$777,456	$698,798	$213,797	$78,658