Vail Mountain School
Vail Mountain School reported $18.1 million in revenue and $17.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.38 went to program services, $16.14 to management and general costs and $2.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 77.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $261,314 (HEAD OF SCHOOL AND DIRECTO). 11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 1% between FY2021 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$10.57 $1.9M
- Program service revenue$77.01 $14M
- Investment income$12.42 $2.3M
Other revenue was negative: −$11,700. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.1% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.5% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.23 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 10.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 77.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $261,314 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.50% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 11 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 20.9 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseVail Mountain School provides a sound academic education in a dynamic educational environment to approximately 375 students in grades kindergarten through twelve. The school also provides opportunities for personal exploration and interpersonal growth through its many co-curricular programs
Summerquest is a summer academic program for public school students in eagle county with great potential, but who are in need of additional support and positive role models. Not only is it a way for vms to give back to the local community, the program also serves to mentor college and high school students who are aspiring educators. Each july, middle school students study math, reading, spelling, writing, and public speaking, while also playing games, attending cultural events, and bonding. Students are nominated by teachers in the public schools and typically enter the program in sixth grade…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEAD OF SCHOOL AND DIRECTO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $242,024 | $0 | $19,290 | $261,314 |
| DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $129,877 | $0 | $76,708 | $206,585 |
| DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,476 | $0 | $63,315 | $199,791 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $167,580 | $0 | $8,413 | $175,993 |
| DIRECTOR OF LOWER SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $110,989 | $0 | $52,888 | $163,877 |
| DIRECTOR OF IT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $126,541 | $0 | $20,474 | $147,015 |
| DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $113,749 | $0 | $15,060 | $128,809 |
11 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Vail Mountain School (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.0M (Part IX, line 5).
5 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aNo
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5153
- Volunteers Part I, line 6400
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Vail Mountain School totaling $555K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Vail Mountain School's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Vail Mountain School, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Vail Mountain School spent in FY2025, $81.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Linwood CenterEllicott City, MD · revenue $18M · programs 94.3% · FY2025
- Say Yes Buffalo ScholarshipBuffalo, NY · revenue $18M · programs 88.5% · FY2025
- National Association for College Admission CounselingArlington, VA · revenue $18M · programs 63.9% · 2024
- The J127 Education FoundationFairfax, VA · revenue $18M · programs 92.7% · FY2025
- The Catherine Cook SchoolChicago, IL · revenue $18M · programs 76.8% · FY2024
Questions people ask
How much of Vail Mountain School's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Vail Mountain School reported that 81.4% of its $17.4 million in expenses went to program services, 16.1% to management and general and 2.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Vail Mountain School pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Vail Mountain School reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $261,314, for the role of HEAD OF SCHOOL AND DIRECTO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Vail Mountain School get its money?
Of $18.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 10.6% came from contributions and grants and 77.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Vail Mountain School a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-0533775 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621329349304477 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202541019349301969 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431359349306798 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331359349308688 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211339349306366 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-0533775: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.