Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Helen Keller Services

EIN 11-1630807 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O

Income
$53.3 million
Spending
$44.0 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
31 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 44%
Employees
489
Volunteers
54
Highest pay
$299,011, ceo

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

Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (7)
  1. $20.7 million spent. HELEN KELLER NATIONAL CENTER (HKNC) - HKNC offers vocational rehabilitation services exclusively designed for youth and adults who are DeafBlind. HKNC overall mandates include provision of intensive services to individuals who are DeafBlind throughout the US and territories, provision of training and support to families, provision of training to professional, maintenance of national registry and charge to conduct of applied research and demonstration projects. HKNC comprised of 10 regions nationally, has a network of eleven regional offices, DeafBlind Specialists and Community Services Programs. HKNC operates a community residence in Manorhaven, N.Y. (Expenses $ 3,121,201 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 2,178,884) Day Habilitation Services (Expenses $ 1,975,353 including grants of $) National Center on DeafBlindness (Expenses $ 976,413 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 1,636,389) Residential (Expenses $ 274,827 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 73,575) Summer Camp
  2. $5.5 million spent. HKSB COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES - HKSB offers an array of core vocational rehabilitation services that include but are not limited to employment training, job development and job placement, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation, social work, low vision and adaptive technology, Day Habilitation Services, and a community residence in Wantagh, N.Y.
  3. $4.6 million spent. The Children's learning Center (CLC) - CLC is a specialized program which offers a full range of programs and services to preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. The early intervention program provides in-home therapeutic services for infants and toddlers with visual impairments and additional disabilities. (Expenses $ 3,121,201 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 2,178,884) Day Habilitation Services (Expenses $ 1,975,353 including grants of $) National Center on DeafBlindness (Expenses $ 976,413 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 1,636,389) Residential (Expenses $ 274,827 including grants of $)(Revenue $ 73,575) Summer Camp
  4. $3.1 million spent. Day Habilitation Services
  5. $2.0 million spent. National Center on DeafBlindness
  6. $976,413 spent. Residential
  7. $274,827 spent. Summer Camp

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 1936.

    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.

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.