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Franklin Center

EIN 16-1671503 · Golden Valley, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FRANKLIN CENTER TRANSFORMS LIVES BY ADDRESSING THE HOLISTIC ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE NEURODIVERSE COMMUNITY.

Income
$8.8 million
Spending
$9.3 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 90%
Employees
126
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$214,356, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 38 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 July 31, 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. $2.8 million spent. FRANKLIN ACADEMY - WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ALIGN OUR CURRICULUM TO ASSESSMENTS, ANALYZING VARIOUS TOOLS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH STATE STANDARDS WHILE MEETING THE NEED FOR INDIVIDUALIZATION. USING OUR PROPRIETARY RUBRIC ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR SCHOOL SKILLS, WE DEVELOPED SPECIFIC SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL GOALS FOR EACH STUDENT (TRACKED MONTHLY), DEMONSTRATING THE INTEGRATION OF BEHAVIOR THERAPISTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUR FOCUS ON THE WHOLE PERSON (NOT JUST GRADES).
  2. $3.1 million spent. FRANKLIN THERAPY - WE ARE CREDENTIALED WITH SEVERAL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES, INCLUDING HEALTH PARTNERS LOCALLY AND CIGNA NATIONALLY. WE ARE CERTIFIED THROUGH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY STAFF IN ORDER TO SERVE ADDITIONAL CLIENTS AND FAMILIES.
  3. $915,591 spent. FRANKLIN CAPSTONE - OUR AUDIT PROGRAM HELPS PINPOINT THE AREAS FOR GROWTH NECESSARY TO HELP YOUNG ADULTS 18-28 WITH ASD AND OTHER NEURODIVERSITIES LIVE THEIR MORE INDEPENDENT, PRODUCTIVE, AND SELF- ACTUALIZED LIVES. WE ALSO OFFER VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES, WORKING WITH CLIENTS TO HELP THEM TO FUNCTION IN THEIR HOMES, AT WORK, AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 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 July 2025.

    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 June 2004.

    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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