Breck School 
The information on this page was last updated 2/9/2025. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Founded in 1886 and rooted in Episcopal values, Breck School is a preschool through twelve, college preparatory day school with more than 1,100 students. Located in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on 52 acres just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Breck enjoys a national reputation for excellence and achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts. Upon graduation Breck students matriculate to colleges and universities across the country compatible with students' interests and talents.
As an Episcopal school, we hold an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity, welcoming individuals of all faiths or no faith at all. Through a partnership between reason and inquiry, we provide students the opportunity to reflect on their own beliefs and honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their lives.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Breck School
123 Ottawa Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55422
Website: breckschool.org
Phone: 763-381-8100
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 410693894
CEO/President: Dr. Natalia Rico Hernandez
Chairman: Craig Loya
Board size: 26
Founder: Bishop Henry Whipple
Ruling year: 1952
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
We are a community of high achieving and motivated students and teachers focused on intellectual inquiry and engagement. Utilizing the current Mind, Brain, and Education Science research, we offer a safe place where our students are known and cared for, giving them opportunities to try new things and express their ideas.
Mission statement
Our mission is to:
Prepare each student for a college whose culture is compatible with the individual's needs, interests and abilities.
Help develop each student's unique talents and potential to excel by nurturing independence and self-worth.
Instill in each student a deep sense of social responsibility.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 767 of 1114 | 41 of 50 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 782 of 1115 | 40 of 50 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 394 of 1115 | 19 of 50 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 837 of 1114 | 44 of 50 |
According to the organization's Form 990, it received $193,894 in government grants in 2023.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 39% | 37% | 14% | 14% | 39% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 12% | 6% | 6% | 15% | 16% | 6% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 88% | 94% | 94% | 85% | 84% | 94% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 84% | 84% | 84% | 85% | 85% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 103% | 107% | 95% | 96% | 100% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 80% | 86% | 90% | 80% | 81% | 85% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -3% | -7% | 5% | 4% | 0% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 2% | -1% | -3% | 2% | 2% | 0% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.34 | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.24 | 3.94 | 4.22 | 4.71 | 4.34 | 4.06 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.92 | 1.34 | 1.39 | 1.43 | 1.32 | 1.20 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 3.25 | 1.54 | 1.46 | 1.43 | 1.56 | 1.62 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.31 | 0.65 | 0.68 | 0.70 | 0.64 | 0.62 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.14 | 3.15 | 2.74 | 2.51 | 3.25 | 3.82 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 33% | 22% | 23% | 21% | 26% | 24% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 9% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 11% | 8% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 135% | 229% | 235% | 259% | 242% | 256% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $27,001,011 | $21,227,192 | $24,191,297 | $23,736,493 | $21,528,929 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $12,304,749 | $14,334,587 | $9,243,851 | $9,821,529 | $13,870,095 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $39,305,760 | $35,561,779 | $33,435,148 | $33,558,022 | $35,399,024 |
| Long-term investments | $67,972,745 | $66,016,568 | $75,207,397 | $61,037,685 | $56,513,040 |
| Fixed assets | $47,201,580 | $48,479,016 | $48,822,939 | $51,160,531 | $51,905,558 |
| Other long-term assets | $358,471 | $18,123 | $33,336 | $49,235 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $115,532,796 | $114,513,707 | $124,063,672 | $112,247,451 | $108,418,598 |
| Total assets | $154,838,556 | $150,075,486 | $157,498,820 | $145,805,473 | $143,817,622 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,095,972 | $2,678,942 | $3,143,364 | $3,036,977 | $2,867,187 |
| Other current liabilities | $22,404,293 | $21,639,444 | $20,319,763 | $18,535,691 | $18,979,917 |
| Total current liabilities | $25,500,265 | $24,318,386 | $23,463,127 | $21,572,668 | $21,847,104 |
| Debt | $7,581,106 | $8,614,226 | $9,001,123 | $15,694,745 | $11,694,656 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $1,547,766 | $1,207,091 | $1,340,648 | $1,310,533 | $1,145,106 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $9,128,872 | $9,821,317 | $10,341,771 | $17,005,278 | $12,839,762 |
| Total liabilities | $34,629,137 | $34,139,703 | $33,804,898 | $38,577,946 | $34,686,866 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $53,998,895 | $53,311,938 | $53,293,667 | $49,336,289 | $50,964,547 |
| With donor restrictions | $66,210,524 | $62,623,845 | $70,400,255 | $57,891,238 | $58,166,209 |
| Net assets | $120,209,419 | $115,935,783 | $123,693,922 | $107,227,527 | $109,130,756 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $3,199,300 | $2,881,249 | $7,563,300 | $7,232,115 | $2,495,538 |
| Program service revenue | $46,431,664 | $43,272,389 | $39,665,447 | $37,766,949 | $37,561,500 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $1,450,046 | ($69,066) | $2,939,644 | $720,317 | $2,210,860 |
| Other revenue | $141,091 | $122,139 | $276,761 | $431,884 | $359,333 |
| Total other revenue | $48,022,801 | $43,325,462 | $42,881,852 | $38,919,150 | $40,131,693 |
| Total revenue | $51,222,101 | $46,206,711 | $50,445,152 | $46,151,265 | $42,627,231 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $44,258,829 | $41,438,393 | $40,268,011 | $37,478,192 | $36,098,812 |
| Management and general | $7,008,472 | $6,820,020 | $6,372,088 | $5,770,029 | $5,483,465 |
| Fundraising | $1,249,385 | $1,054,637 | $1,040,884 | $985,424 | $979,435 |
| Total expenses | $52,516,686 | $49,313,050 | $47,680,983 | $44,233,645 | $42,561,712 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($1,294,585) | ($3,106,339) | $2,764,169 | $1,917,620 | $65,519 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,294,585) | ($3,106,339) | $2,764,169 | $1,917,620 | $65,519 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Natalia R Hernandez | Head of School | $687,216 |
| Ted Forbath | Chief Operating Officer | $259,076 |
| Stacy Glaus | Chief Stratey and Comm. Officer | $223,646 |
| Mark Garrison | Chief Information Officer | $205,896 |
| Schuyler Fauver | Director of Middle School | $198,724 |
| Scott Wade | Director of Admissions | $185,656 |
| Jonathan Nicholson | Director of College Counseling | $179,787 |
| Brett Bergene | Athletic Director | $166,356 |
| Wendy Engelman | Controller | $163,792 |
| Mary Healy | Director of Human Resources | $162,652 |
| Michael Thorson | Director of Facilities | $155,125 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 2/9/2025. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Breck School was named for a pioneer missionary, the Reverend James Lloyd Breck, and established in 1886.
The first Breck campus was in Wilder, Minnesota, with a goal of educating children under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, headed at the time by Bishop Henry Whipple. In its earliest years, Breck attracted students from a wide range of backgrounds, particularly children of local immigrant farmers. The single fee for tuition, room and board for an entire year was $110.
In 1916, Breck moved to St. Paul. Under the leadership of the Reverend Charles Haupt, the school opened at 2095 Commonwealth Avenue, near the University of Minnesota's agricultural campus. In 1920, the school moved to 2102 Carter Avenue, and in 1921 the first five students received diplomas. In the fall of 1922, Breck moved to a new building at the intersection of Como Avenue and Herndon, a then-undeveloped site near the St. Paul city limits.
The Rev. Haupt retired in 1938, at the age of 81. He was succeeded by Chester DesRochers, who introduced a military and riding curriculum, and Breck became an all-boys school. In the early 1940s, Breck officially adopted the Mustang as its mascot and blue and gold as its school colors. After DesRochers' departure in 1948, Breck headmasters included Morison Brigham, Warren Wadsworth, Daniel Cowling and the Reverend Canon Douglas F. Henderson, who assumed the role in 1952.
Under Canon Henderson, Breck reintroduced female students in grades one through three, strengthened the school's academics, and worked hard to attract a diverse student body. Nevertheless, the school suffered from serious economic challenges. Breck nearly faced extinction until a Twin Cities plumbing contractor, Reuben Anderson, came to its rescue.
By 1956, Breck was flourishing, and it had outgrown its Como Avenue campus. The school's trustees purchased land on the River Road in Minneapolis. Ground was broken in February, and the building was completed in time to be used in the second semester of the 1956-57 school year.
In 1959, Breck's board of trustees formally voted to eliminate the military program. In 1964, the school broke ground for the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and took its first step toward full coeducation by allowing the third grade girls to move on to fourth grade. By 1967, those girls were ready for what was then the Upper School, and the transition was complete.
When Canon Henderson retired in 1974, he was succeeded by John Littleford, the youngest headmaster in Breck's history. By 1979, Breck's enrollment was at an all-time high of 716. That same year, however, there was a devastating fire that destroyed the Chapel. School leadership began to contemplate the need for a larger facility.
In 1981, Breck moved to its present location in Golden Valley, occupying the city's former middle and high school, which had been closed due to a school district merger. Construction began on facilities, including a new Chapel of the Holy Spirit, which was dedicated on the third anniversary of the fire that devastated its River Road predecessor.
Breck celebrated its centennial in 1986 with enthusiasm. That same year, John Littleford was succeeded by interim headmaster Kathryn Harper. Samuel Salas was named headmaster in 1987 and served the school until his retirement in June 2007. Edward Kim served as Breck's Head of School for 10 years, from 2007-2017.
Breck's 16th Head of School, Natalia Rico Hernndez, began her tenure in July 2017.