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Institute for Human Centered Design Inc

EIN 04-2785256 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN (IHCD) IS AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND ENHANCING EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND CULTURE THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN. IHCD'S WORK BALANCES EXPERTISE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED ACCESSILITY WITH PROMOTION OF BEST PRACTICES IN HUMAN-CENTERED OR UNIVERSAL DESIGN.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
6.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 58%
Employees
43
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$148,300, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $2.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS A 40-YEAR-OLD EDUCATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND ENHANCING EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND CULTURES THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN. THE ORGANIZATION'S WORK BALANCES EXPERTISE IN LEGALLY REQUIRED ACCESSIBILITY WITH PROMOTION OF BEST PRACTICES IN HUMAN CENTERED OR UNIVERSAL DESIGN. PROJECTS VARY FROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL. ALL ARE CHARACTERIZED BY COLLABORATION AND USER PARTICIPATION. THE ORGANIZATION PROMOTES DESIGN THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF ABILITY, AGE AND CULTURE. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND CODES THAT PROVIDE A BEDROCK OF ACCESSIBILITY IN THE U.S., AND EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION ABOUT STRATEGIES, PRECEDENTS AND BEST PRACTICES THAT GO BEYOND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO DESIGN PLACES, THINGS, COMMUNICATION AND POLICY THAT INTEGRATE SOLUTIONS TO THE REALITY OF HUMAN DIVERSITY. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:- FIRST U.S. NON-PROFIT FOCUSED ON THE ROLE OF DESIGN IN RELATION TO DISABILITY & AGING FOUNDED IN 1978 IN BOSTON AS ADAPTIVE ENVIRONMENTS.- BALANCES EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE ON ALL FACETS OF U.S. LEGAL COMPLIANCE FOR ACCESSIBILITY WITH PROMOTION OF BEST PRACTICES IN UNIVERSAL/INCLUSIVE DESIGN.- MULTI-DISCIPLINARY AND DIVERSE TEAM IN TERMS OF AGE, ABILITY AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND, ALL WITH STRONG EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL CREDENTIALS.- SCOPE OF WORK IS A BALANCE OF PUBLICLY FUNDED PROJECTS WITH AN EXPANDING PROPORTION OF EARNED-INCOME WORK INCLUDING CONSULTING, DESIGN, RETAIL, PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITS.- KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER BETWEEN PROJECTS ENSURES THAT EACH PROJECT IS INFORMED BY STANDARDS, PRACTICE EXPERIENCE, BEST PRECEDENTS GLOBALLY AND RESEARCH.- LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES INCLUDING EDUCATION, CONSULTING AND DESIGN. THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDES:EDUCATION - TRAININGS AND PRESENTATIONS - CONFERENCES (HOSTED, CO-HOSTED, CONVENED) - PROGRAMMATIC EDUCATION - DISTANCE LEARNING - DESIGN AND CONSULTING SERVICES - ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN -PLAN REVIEW - EXISTING CONDITIONS (SURVEY EVALUATIONS) - CONSUMER (SERVICE) CONSULTING - WEB AND JCT (INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY) - POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT - SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - NEW ENGLAND ADA CENTER EDUCATION - TRAININGS AND PRESENTATIONS - PROGRAMMATIC EDUCATIONUSER/EXPERT LAB - CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY RESEARCH AT THE ORGANIZATIONS HEADQUARTERS OR IN THE FIELD ON PHYSICAL, SENSORY, BRAIN-BASED CONDITIONS GOODS AND SERVICES - PUBLICATIONS -EXHIBITS - LIBRARY - MEMBERSHIP/SPONSORSHIP RESEARCH - QUANTITATIVE -QUALITATIVE

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.