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Lamaze International

EIN 13-6104296 · Raleigh, NC

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

TO ADVANCE SAFE AND HEALTHY PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND EARLY PARENTING THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$915,161
Spending
$1.5 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11

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 22% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 66% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (health care, $250k to $1m).

  • 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.

  • 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. $558,904 spent. CERTIFICATION, ACCREDITATION, AND EDUCATION COUNCILS - THE LAMAZE CERTIFICATION COUNCIL (THE "COUNCIL") SERVES AS THE STANDARD-SETTING AND POLICY-MAKING BODY FOR THE COUNCIL'S CERTIFICATION. EACH YEAR, TWO CERTIFICATION EXAMS ARE DEVELOPED AND ADMINISTERED. A LAMAZE CERTIFIED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR ("LCCE") MUST RECERTIFY EVERY THREE YEARS BY EITHER DEMONSTRATING THEY HAVE ACQUIRED 25 CONTACT HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION OR HAVE RETAKEN AND PASSED THE LAMAZE CERTIFICATION EXAM. THE COUNCIL SETS STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND POLICY FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF LAMAZE CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHICH PREPARE CANDIDATES FOR LAMAZE CERTIFICATION AND GRANTS FORMAL APPROVAL TO OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING ACCREDITATION FOR OFFERING LAMAZE CONTACT HOURS FOR AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS A HIGH STANDARD FOR ITS CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS USING A CLEARLY DEFINED PROCESS FOR ASSESSING NEED, PLANNING, DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING LAMAZE CONTINUING EDUCATION. IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADULT LEARNING PRINCIPLES AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS AND ETHICS, AND MAINTAINS THE ORGANIZATION'S STATUS AS AN ACCREDITED PROVIDER OF CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER AND CALIFORNIA BOARD OF REGISTERED NURSING.THE LAMAZE EDUCATION COUNCIL ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDBEARING WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO LAMAZE EDUCATION THROUGH DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING, HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCED-BASED TRAINING FOR CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS, HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCED-BASED CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, AND HIGH QUALITY EVIDENCE-BASED CONSUMER EDUCATION. THE EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL'S PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR TRAINING AND RESOURCES, CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND PARENT EDUCATION, AND INCLUDE AN LCCE MEMBER-AT-LARGE WHICH REPRESENTS THE NEEDS OF NEW EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL EDUCATORS RELATED TO TRAINING, RESOURCES AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO HELP ASSURE THAT EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL'S EDUCATION OFFERINGS ARE RELEVANT TO CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND RESPONSIVE TO PARENTS' NEEDS, AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF INTERESTED PROFESSIONALS.
  2. $232,673 spent. COMMUNICATIONS - THE ORGANIZATION HAS A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM WHICH TARGETS BOTH THE PERINATAL PROFESSIONAL AND PARENT/CONSUMER AUDIENCES THE ORGANIZATION SERVES. PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDE: THE JOURNAL OF PERINATAL EDUCATION, A QUARTERLY, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION; INSIDE LAMAZE, A MEMBER NEWSLETTER; AND CONNECTING THE DOTS, A RESEARCH BLOG ABOUT PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND BEYOND. COMMUNICATIONS FOR PARENTS/CONSUMERS INCLUDE GIVING BIRTH WITH CONFIDENCE, A BLOG WITH EVIDENCED-BASED ARTICLES AND TIPS RELATED TO PREGNANCY, BIRTH AND PARENTING. LAMAZE HAS A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE (WWW.LAMAZE.ORG) TARGETED TO PARENTS, CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS AND BIRTH PROFESSIONALS, AND DOCTORS AND MIDWIVES, AS WELL AS A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM.
  3. $61,318 spent. ANNUAL MEETING - EACH YEAR THE ORGANIZATION HOSTS AN ANNUAL MEETING FOR LAMAZE MEMBERS AND OTHER MATERNITY CARE PROFESSIONALS TO GATHER FOR A ROBUST PROGRAM WITH AN ADVOCACY OR EDUCATIONAL FOCUS. THE MEETING INCLUDES EXHIBITS OF INTEREST TO ATTENDEES AND A SOCIAL PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE NETWORKING.
  4. $29,047 spent. COMMITTEES - CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE (CEC): UNDER THE LAMAZE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THE CEC REVIEWS EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS TO DETERMINE RELEVANCY TO LAMAZE STAKEHOLDERS.FINANCE COMMITTEE: THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING THE ANNUAL BUDGET, SELECTION OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT FIRM AND INVESTMENT MANAGER, FINANCIAL POLICIES AND TRANSFERS.SEARCH COMMITTEE: THE SEARCH COMMITTEE ACTIVELY SEEKS OUT LEADERSHIP CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, REVIEWS THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDS CANDIDATES FOR THE ELECTION SLATE OR APPOINTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL BYLAWS AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE: THE ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE OVERSEES THE ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION OF LAMAZE-ACCREDITED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR PROGRAMS AND SETS RELATED POLICIES. MEMBERS REVIEW APPLICATIONS AND ATTEND MEETINGS TO DETERMINE ACCREDITATION STATUS. IDEAL FOR LCCES WITH EXPERIENCE IN CBE OR TEACHING SEMINARS, THE COMMITTEE REQUIRES VARYING MONTHLY TIME COMMITMENTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, AVERAGING ABOUT TWO HOURS PER APPLICATION. REVIEW THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL POLICY FOR MORE DETAILS.MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE ADVISES ON ENGAGEMENT, BENEFITS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, REVIEWS SURVEYS AND REPORTS, AND MONITORS SATISFACTION. MEMBERS COMMIT ABOUT 5 HOURS PER MONTH.EDUCATION COMMITTEE: THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE DEVELOPS, IMPLEMENTS, AND EVALUATES CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SETS RELATED POLICIES. REVIEW THE EDUCATION COUNCIL POLICY FOR DETAILS ON ROLES AND PROCESSES. MEMBERS COMMIT ABOUT THREE HOURS PER MONTH.

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 July 1975.

    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.

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.