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Running River School Inc

Sedona, AZ · EIN 461559083 · Form 990PF · FY2021 · NTEE B99 · Education · Small ($100K-$1M) · runningriverschool.org
revenue
$611K
expenses
$684K
net assets
$99K
employees
filing since
2019
profile · synthesized from sources

Running River School is an independent K-8 school in Sedona, Arizona, offering a Waldorf-inspired curriculum. The school focuses on holistic child development, integrating academics with arts, movement, and practical skills. It aims to foster a lifelong love of learning and prepare students for academic and personal success.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

First Grade Curriculum
A Waldorf-inspired curriculum for first-grade students focusing on language arts (fairy tales, phonetics, writing), mathematics (four operations, number patterns), natural sciences (nature study, gardening), social sciences (folk tales, legends), fine arts (drawing, painting, modeling), handwork (knitting), music (pentatonic flute, singing), and physical education.
Second Grade Curriculum
A Waldorf-inspired curriculum for second-grade students focusing on legends, saints, and fables, place value, addition and subtraction of large numbers, multiplication tables, phonetics, reading, writing, drama, painting, drawing, form drawing, beeswax modeling, handwork, music, physical education, and Spanish.
activities · 4

what they do

direct service · 4
  • Delivering First Grade Curriculum Child Care & Early Learning Programs
    Teaches first graders to manipulate numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, conducts regular nature walks to observe seasonal changes, and introduces historical and social science concepts through fairy tales and ancient legends.
  • Operating a Waldorf-inspired Grade School Charter & Alternative School Operation
    Operates an independent non-profit grade school for students in Grades 1 through 8, providing a holistic educational environment inspired by Waldorf education to develop academic confidence and a sense of wonder. The school admits students of any gender, religion, race, color, or ethnic origin and administers educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and extracurricular activities without discrimination.
  • Organizing Community Field Trips Guided Environmental Field Trips
    Organizes weekly community field trips, staffed by parents, to local businesses, cultural sites, and natural areas in Northern Arizona.
  • Providing Private Music Lessons Early Childhood Music Education
    Offers private music lessons to students and integrates diverse multicultural songs and instruments into the academic curriculum for lower grades.
strategies · 8

how they think

Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any approach shared with other orgs to see the full field.

  • Community Building and Cultural Immersion community_building unique to this org
    A strong sense of community and social connection is fostered through cooperative learning and stable teacher-student relationships, while cultural diversity is appreciated through the infusion of Hispanic culture and global perspectives in lessons.
  • Developmentally Appropriate and Child-Centered Curriculum developmentally_appropriate_curriculum unique to this org
    The curriculum is designed to align with the natural stages of child development, providing age-appropriate content and activities, and utilizing a child-centered approach that considers individual needs and allows children to learn at their own pace.
  • Experiential and Arts-Integrated Learning experiential_learning unique to this org
    Learning is fostered through practical, hands-on activities, projects, experiments, and artistic expression such as drawing, painting, music, drama, and handwork, which support fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, creativity, and real-world application of knowledge.
  • Interdisciplinary Main Lesson Approach main_lesson_approach unique to this org
    The organization uses a "Main Lesson" approach where a single subject is studied intensively for several weeks, integrating different subjects to demonstrate the interconnectedness of knowledge and foster a holistic understanding of the world.
  • Non-Politicized Inclusion non_politicized_inclusion unique to this org
    The organization practices active love, compassion, and appreciation for all humanity, affirming each individual without politicizing issues of race, gender, or identity.
  • Play-Based Learning play_based_learning unique to this org
    In early years, the organization emphasizes play-based learning to foster exploration, imagination, and a love for learning.
  • Story-Based Learning for Moral and Cognitive Development story_based_learning unique to this org
    The organization employs thought-provoking stories, including legends, fables, and cultural narratives, to support children's development of self-confidence, moral qualities, an understanding of adversity, and to integrate mathematical concepts and cultural awareness.
  • Waldorf Education-Inspired Holistic Development waldorf_education unique to this org
    The organization utilizes an educational approach inspired by Waldorf education principles to foster holistic child development, nurturing intellectual, artistic, social, emotional, and practical capacities, and promoting academic confidence, a sense of wonder, and a lifelong love of learning.
financials · form 990PF · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$611K
Contributions & grants$132K22%
Program service revenue
Investment income$00%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$684K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$1.64M
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$99K
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -13.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 4
  • ELLYN HILLIARD — Director
  • Guadalupe Pollock — Director
  • MARIE MCMAHAN — Director
  • STEVEN PALEY — Director
relationships · 5

who they work with

  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for organizational outreach and communication
  • Gradalis Partner — Provides teacher training certificates in anthroposophically-based education to faculty members.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for organizational outreach and communication
  • Sedona Charter School Partner — Board Vice Chair, Steven Paley, previously served on its governing council.
  • Waldorf Education Partner — Incorporates principles of Waldorf education in its curriculum and teaching methods.