irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $120KFINANCIAL ASSISTANCETHIS ACTIVITY ALLOWS THE SCHOOL TO OFFER EDUCATION SERVICES TO AN EXTENDED COMMUNITY.
- #2 $28KSUMMER PROGRAM & FIELD TRIPSTHIS ACTIVITY PROVIDES GROUP ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING FOR CHILDREN.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Events and Festivals
Seasonal celebrations such as May Festival, Winter Faire, and Lantern Walk that build community and honor cultural traditions.
Financial Assistance Program
Initiative to extend access to Waldorf education by providing financial aid to families in need.
Outdoor and Experiential Education
Daily outdoor classes, woods walks, and seasonal activities that connect students with nature and promote physical and emotional development.
Summer Program & Field Trips
Seasonal programming offering group learning activities, outdoor adventures, and educational trips for children.
Waldorf K-8 Academic Program
Core academic curriculum enriched with arts, music, world languages (including German), and practical skills, following the Waldorf education model.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
- Conduct hands-on, interdisciplinary project-based learningImplements experiential learning programs such as a multi-grade sailboat-building initiative culminating in a launch event at Cazenovia Creek, which integrates craftsmanship, science, and intergenerational collaboration. Students also develop practical and creative skills including woodworking, sewing, juggling, and music composition as part of the curriculum.
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Comprehensive K–8 Academic Curriculum 1 activity
- Deliver Waldorf education integrating arts, sciences, and outdoor learningProvides a rigorous, developmentally appropriate education from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade that integrates fine and practical arts with sciences, mathematics, humanities, movement, and athletics, using Waldorf pedagogy to support children's unfolding development. The curriculum emphasizes creativity, moral development, and reverence for nature, with daily outdoor play in all weather and use of natural materials in a structured early childhood environment.
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Children's Play and Motor Development Spaces 1 activity
- Facilitate seasonal outdoor programs for young children and familiesHosts a seasonal Outdoor Parent-Tot program for children birth to 3 years and their caregivers, meeting weekly during fall and spring on the school’s 13-acre wooded campus to explore nature through play and guided activities.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Host community events and cultural festivalsOrganizes frequent community-building events including festivals, conferences, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. Annual traditions include the May Festival with Maypole dancing, cultural performances, and live music; the Olympiad for fifth and sixth graders tied to Ancient Greek history; and a school-wide circus program focused on movement, tumbling, and cooperative performance.
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Operate early childhood and parent-toddler programsOffers a 3-day per week Pre-Kindergarten program for 3- and 4-year-olds with a 1:6 adult-to-child ratio and class size of 12, including storytelling, puppetry, singing, artistic work, imaginative play, domestic arts, and nature walks. Also provides an afternoon Lunch Bunch Program with in-house prepared meals and runs weekly parent-toddler classes for children birth to 36 months, featuring snack preparation, open-ended play, circle time, and outdoor exploration.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Provide financial assistance and transportation accessOffers financial aid to increase access to education services for a broader community and provides free daily bus transportation for students traveling from Buffalo to the school’s campus, instituted in 2009 to accommodate growing enrollment.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.37M
Contributions & grants$579K24%
Program service revenue$1.67M70%
Investment income$9K0%
Other revenue$111K
expenses
Total expenses$1.89M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.25M
Grants paid out$120K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.75M
Cash$468K
Investments$0
Liabilities$723K
Net assets$1.03M
Liquid reserves3.0 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +20.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNA HARP | ADMINISTRATOR | 1 | $40K |
| MARK LIN-ARANDUQUE | ALC LIAISON | 1 | $35K |
| ANGEL LEHNER | CFO | 1 | $30K |
board members · 7
- BRUCE CARROW — TREASURER
- EDWARD WATTS — VICE PRESIDENT
- JAMES DOTSON — TRUSTEE
- JIM ANDERSON — PRESIDENT
- JONATHAN ZYBALA — SECRETARY
- KAYLA CZYSZ — TRUSTEE
- TRICIA FURNARI — TRUSTEE
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- ASSOCIATION OF WALDORF SCHOOLS OF NORTH AMERICA Network — Follows the educational model developed by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.
- AWSNA Network — Member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, as indicated by logo and link placement.
- Annlouise Cirelli Partner — Alumni parent who provided a testimonial about her daughter's experience at the school.
- Association of Waldorf Schools in North America Network — Accrediting body that granted Aurora Waldorf School accreditation in 2020.
- Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Network — Publicly aligns with and references AWSNA's statement on Rudolf Steiner's racist remarks and the commitment to anti-racism in Waldorf education.
- Beehively Partner — Uses Beehively as a technology platform to power its website, as indicated by the 'Powered by Beehively' footer link.
- Beth McNamara Partner — Longtime faculty member recognized by alumni for her commitment and impact on student experience.
- East Aurora School District Partner — Sold the school building and surrounding land to Aurora Waldorf School in 2004.
- Instagram Partner — Shares school activities and daily life through an official Instagram account.
- Jill Quinn Partner — Kindergarten teacher who incorporated Ukrainian cultural traditions into the curriculum in response to the war in Ukraine.
- Mr. Meyer Partner — Music educator who contributed to performances at school events such as the May Festival.
- Mr. Tunkey Partner — Founding trustee and educator who developed the school’s internationally recognized movement program, including orienteering and cross country skiing.
- Ms. McKenney Partner — Educator who provided music during school events from the outdoor classroom/bandshell.
- NYSAIS Network — Member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools, as indicated by logo and link placement.
- New York State Association of Independent Schools Government — Accrediting body that granted Aurora Waldorf School accreditation in 2022.
- Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca Nation) Government — School acknowledges operating on unceded and seized territory of the Seneca Nation, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
- Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) Network — Member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America, as indicated by logo and link placement.
- YouTube Partner — Hosts Aurora Waldorf School alum panel videos
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Developmentally Staged Waldorf Educationmethodology: waldorf_education_modelBy aligning curriculum with the evolving stages of child development through arts, practical activities, and imaginative play, we foster foundational readiness for academic and artistic learning, because the Waldorf model holds that children learn best when instruction matches their developmental phase.
- Equity and Inclusion Through Community Access and Anti-Bias Educationmethodology: equity-and-inclusionBy providing free transportation and actively rejecting racism and colorism, while amplifying marginalized voices, we create a more equitable and inclusive school community, because access and representation are foundational to culturally responsive education and belonging.
- Holistic Development Through Arts and Creative Expressionmethodology: holistic_education_through_artsBy integrating arts, music, handwork, and creative expression into daily learning, we cultivate well-rounded individuals with strong cognitive, emotional, and practical capacities, because creative engagement deepens internalization of knowledge and supports holistic growth.
- Outdoor and Play-Based Learning for Foundational Developmentmethodology: outdoor_learningBy using free outdoor play in all weather conditions and a predictable, nature-connected daily rhythm, we support balanced brain development, resilience, and environmental stewardship, because unstructured play and nature immersion are essential for health and future academic success.
- Relationship-Based and Longitudinal Teaching Modelmethodology: relationship-based_educationBy looping teachers with the same class over multiple years and using daily relational practices like morning greetings, we build deep student-teacher relationships that enable responsive, individualized education, because sustained connections enhance trust, self-sufficiency, and academic engagement.