Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Growth and Development Services Inc

EIN 13-3920404 · South Salem, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INC. (GDS) IS TO EMPOWER UNDER-RESOURCED, YOUTH TO MAKE UNPRECEDENTED LIFE TRANSFORMATIONS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE INSPIRATION AND MEANS TO DISCOVER AND SUSTAIN PURPOSE AND PRIDE IN THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$245,297
Spending
$107,851
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
16.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 88%
Employees
0
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$36,000, founder & executive director

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 165% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (animals, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $54,638 spent. -YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, YFS THE EXCEL PROGRAM - OUR TEAM OF PASSIONATE PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS: MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ARTS EDUCATORS, WELLNESS INSTRUCTORS, ACADEMIC TUTORS, AND YOUTH MENTORS COMBINE TO CREATE A SAFE, EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE TALENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE IDENTIFIED AND NURTURED AND WHERE THE MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THEY FACE ARE ADDRESSED WITH COMPASSION AND KNOWLEDGE.
  2. $6,908 spent. THE YOUTH ENGAGING SENIORS (YES) PROGRAM IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM THAT USES THE TRANSFORMATIONAL YOUTH SERVICES OF GDS. BOTH YOUTH AND ELDERS HAVE IDENTIFIED ISOLATION AND LONELINESS AS MAJOR PROBLEMS. OUR GOAL IS TO AWAKEN SENIORS' JOYFUL MEMORIES WHILE EXPANDING YOUTH LIFE SKILLS.IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, GDS LAUNCHED LEADERS FOR CHANGE (LFC), A VIRTUAL AND SAFE HAVEN TO BUILD CONNECTIONS OFFERING EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND CAREER READINESS SUPPORT.
  3. -TRAINING INSTITUTE.GDS PROVIDES INTERNSHIPS AND TRAINING FOR ASPIRING YOUTH WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON HOW TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH AT-RISK YOUTH.

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 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1997.

    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.