Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Federation for Children With Special Needs Inc

EIN 04-2557572 · Boston, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood83 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES, ENGAGE DIVERSE COMMUNIITIES, AND ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO IMPROVE LIFE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
6.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
84
Volunteers
825
Highest pay
$144,477, associate director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 55% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $5.3 million spent. FCSN PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM. WE WORK WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE BEST PRACTICES ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. WE HELD OVER 705 EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON HEALTH AND EDUCATION RELATED TOPICS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS. WE REACHED OVER 3,736 FAMILIES IN ONE-ON-ONE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, TELEHEALTH, AND REFERRALS TO EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. WE RECRUITED AND TRAINED 508 SPECIAL EDUCATION SURROGATE PARENTS. WE HOLD CONFERENCES EACH YEAR REACHING 2,384 PARTICIPANTS PROVIDING EDUCATION, TRANSITION SUPPORT, ADVOCACY AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. WE PROVIDED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO 581 PEOPLE. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS IN SPANISH, CHINESE, PORTUGUESE, VIETNAMESE AND HAITIAN, AS WELL AS ENGLISH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending October 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending October 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.