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The Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center Inc

EIN 06-1352951 · Old Mystic, CT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE AND PREPARE CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR LIFE. SERVICES INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL, AND DAY PROGRAM SUPPORTS.

Income
$9.3 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 66%
Employees
142
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$139,295, 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 (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.7 million spent. LEARNING CAMPUS - OFFERS INTENSIVE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES AGES 5 - 22. STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES TIED TO COMMON CORE WITH AUTHENTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND INDEPENDENCE. APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS ARE TAUGHT AND REINFORCED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. STUDENTS MUST HAVE AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN (IEP) OR BE IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF IDENTIFICATION IN THEIR HOME SCHOOL DISTRICT. FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE.
  2. $53,498 spent. LIFE - LIVECTA TRANSITION PROGRAMS ARE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS WHERE STUDENTS FURTHER DEVELOP THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR INDEPENDENCE. FOCUS IS ON CORE PROGRAM AREAS: EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, SOCIAL/PERSONAL, COMMUNITY, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. INSTRUCTION IS DELIVERED THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS INCLUDING SMALL GROUP WORKSHOPS, ADVISING SESSIONS, AND IN-HOUSE STAFF INSTRUCTION. LIVECTA AIDS STUDENTS IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING A NETWORK OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR LIFE-LONG INDEPENDENCE BY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES, COLLEGES, AND BUSINESSES. AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WITH ASPERGER'S, HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM (HFA), NON-VERBAL LEARNING DISABILITY (NLD), PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER-NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PDD-NOS), OR SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DISORDER.
  3. $29,895 spent. COMMUNITY CAMPUS - THE COMMUNITY CAMPUS PROVIDES STRUCTURED COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCES FOR ADULTS (18+) WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP ADAPTIVE SKILLS IN ORDER TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN ACTIVITIES THAT LEAD TO THE ACQUISITION OF SKILLS NEEDED TO PREPARE AN INDIVIDUAL FOR WORK AND/OR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS MAY INCLUDE SOCIALIZATION, LEISURE, RECREATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, ADAPTIVE SKILLS, PERSONAL CARE, OR PRE-EMPLOYMENT COMPONENTS.

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 November 6, 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 July 1993.

    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 November 4, 2026.

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