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Chai Lifeline Inc

EIN 11-2940331 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHAI LIFELINE IS AN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SUPPORT NETWORK, PROVIDING SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL AND PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FACING ILLNESS, CRISIS, OR LOSS. CHAI LIFELINE OFFERS MORE THAN TWO-DOZEN YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND COUNSELING; MEALS DELIVERED TO HOSPITALS AND HOMES; TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS; HOSPITAL AND IN-HOME RESPITE; EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; INSURANCE ADVOCACY; TRIPS, RETREATS AND SPECIAL EVENTS; PROJECT CHAI CRISIS INTERVENTION, TRAUMA, AND BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT; CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS; EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES; I-SHINE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING; AND ITS FLAGSHIP SUMMER PROGRAMS CAMP SIMCHA, CAMP SIMCHA SPECIAL, AND CAMP SIMCHA WITHOUT BORDERS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH LIFE-THREATENING AND LIFELONG ILLNESS.

Income
$32.8 million
Spending
$32.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
270
Volunteers
5,595
Highest pay
$538,163, chief executive officer

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

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (health care, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 December 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 (4)
  1. $12.7 million spent. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: THESE PROGRAMS RESTORE A SENSE OF NORMALCY TO YOUNG PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHILE FIGHTING ILLNESS BY ENHANCING EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL BONDS. IN THE PAST YEAR, THOUSANDS OF BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS SERVED AS MENTORS TO ILL CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS. 63 HOLIDAY PARTIES AND FAMILY DAYS GAVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER. I-SHINE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING PROVIDED SUPPORT AND CARE TO 1,003 CHILDREN LIVING WITH ILLNESS OR LOSS IN THEIR FAMILIES. 12,536 CRISIS AND TRAUMA INTERVENTIONS, WORKSHOPS, PRESENTATIONS, AND CONSULTATIONS REACHED OVER 250,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $7.2 million spent. SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS: CHAI LIFELINE OPERATES TWO MEDICALLY SUPERVISED SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS ON ONE CAMPUS FOR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN WITH LIFE-THREATENING AND LIFELONG ILLNESSES. CAMP SIMCHA IS OPEN TO CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH CANCER AND OTHER BLOOD-BASED ILLNESSES. CAMP SIMCHA SPECIAL IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH MULTIPLE, DISPARATE CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND/OR DISABILITIES. EACH CAMP RUNS TWO, TWO-WEEK SESSIONS EVERY SUMMER AT THEIR 125-ACRE, FULLY ACCESSIBLE CAMPGROUND IN GLEN SPEY, NY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ADAPTED SPORTS, SWIMMING (INCLUDING RED CROSS INSTRUCTION), BOATING, CRAFTS, WORKSHOPS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS LIKE CONCERTS AND SHOWS. THE GOALS OF THE CAMPS ARE TO FACILITATE INDEPENDENCE; BUILD SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS; ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE OF ONE'S ILLNESS AND CAPABILITIES, AND ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRIENDSHIPS AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS THAT CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, CHAI LIFELINE OPERATES CAMP SIMCHA WITHOUT BORDERS, WHICH HOSTS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S. IN TOTAL, 993 CHILDREN AND TEENS TOOK PART IN SIMCHA PROGRAMMING IN 2024.
  3. $6.5 million spent. HOSPITAL AND HOME-BASED SERVICES: GOALS INCLUDE ENABLING THE FAMILY UNIT TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION DURING MEDICAL CRISES; PROVIDING IN-HOSPITAL SUPPORT TO PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS; AND BRINGING JOY AND HOPE TO YOUNG PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. INITIAL SUPPORT BEGINS WITH A CASE MANAGER'S EVALUATION THAT IDENTIFIES NEEDS AND SUGGESTS PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSES. IN 2024, CHAI LIFELINE PROVIDED EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 10,952 FAMILIES THROUGH MEDICAL REFERRALS AND ADVOCACY; 5,595 VOLUNTEERS RAISED SPIRITS AND PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT; 91,406 PEOPLE RECEIVED TRANSPORTATION TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THUS FACILITATING TREATMENT COMPLIANCE; 122,133 NOURISHING MEALS WERE DELIVERED TO HOSPITALS AND HOMES; 5,497 RESPITE HOSPITAL AND HOME-BASED VOLUNTEER VISITS OFFERED COMFORT AND RELIEF; AND 2,805 FAMILIES RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE EVAN LEVY Z"L FUND.
  4. $400,818 spent. GRANTS TO VARIOUS OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 2024.

    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 January 1991.

    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.

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