Spokane Waldorf Education Association

What it reported doing in 2024

Windsong School served a diverse student body of approximately 155 students during the 2024-2025 school year. Through our Tuition Affordability Program, we were able to support access for 86 low-income students, ensuring that more families could experience the benefits of a Waldorf-inspired education. Our dedicated team included 15 full- and part-time lead teachers, along with 9 support staff members who contributed to a nurturing and dynamic learning environment.During the 24-25 academic year, we were able to acquire the third and final building on our parcel. It now houses our 4th and 6th grade as well as music class. Planning began long ago to acquire this building for needed classroom space, office space and bathrooms. Independent schools like Windsong help invigorate conversations about education where curriculum is not bound by standards but rather driven by child development and teacher creativity. Our faculty welcomed education students form Gonzaga, Whitworth and Mukogawa last year into classrooms as well as guest lectured in education courses. Views into alternative forms of education are vital to the next generation of teachers.We graduated our first 8 grade class this year. They took their last trip together to Holden Village learning about this self-sustaining community. They are all doing well in their new high schools. Some have become captains of their football team, others first chair in their orchestras. We also graduated our 6 grade class who took their class trip to the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce National Parks and the Hoover Dam. All transitioned to their local neighborhood schools and we have heard there are a few Students of the Month in this group! We welcomed our largest first grade class ever during the 2024-2025 school year, the majority of whom have been at the school since they were toddlers! As we grow, Windsong remains deeply committed to its identity as one of the few Waldorf-inspired educational programs in the Spokane region, continuing to cultivate its roots and expand its impact in our community.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 92.3%; rating input score 92
• Program expense ratio: 78.9%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $0.3 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.9%; rating input score 93; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 2 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 29
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • Other executive compensation review process: Limited
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -17%; rating input score 11; 11th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.09; rating input score 4; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.08; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 43.7%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 10.8% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.5% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 14.7% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings