Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE PEAL CENTER IS TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS LEAD RICH, ACTIVE LIVES AS FULL MEMBERS OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 7
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (5)
- $840,885 spent. PTI "PEAL" COLLABORATES WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS, TODDLERS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, FROM BIRTH UP TO THE AGE OF 26, TO ENSURE THEY RECEIVE A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE. THE PEAL CENTER'S PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION (PTI)PROGRAM PROVIDES A RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES, INCLUDING INDIVIUAL ASSISTNACE AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. PEAL EMPOWERS PARENTS TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS IN RESOLVING DISPUTES BY EDUCATING THEM ON THE BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS, SUCH AS MEDIATION. THE PEAL CENTER ALSO COLLABORATES WITH PROFESSIONALS AND POLICYMAKERS TO ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE PTI PROGRAMMING HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 6,000 PARENTS AND OVER 500 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING SESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, PEAL HAS DISTRIBUTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION TO OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUALS AND PARTICIPATED IN 306 OUTREACH EVENTS, FURTHER EXTENDING PEAL'S IMPACT. PTI "PEAL" COLLABORATES WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS, TODDLERS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, FROM BIRTH UP TO THE AGE OF 26, TO ENSURE THEY RECEIVE A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE. THE PEAL CENTER'S PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION (PTI)PROGRAM PROVIDES A RANGE OF DIRECT SERVICES, INCLUDING INDIVIUAL ASSISTNACE AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. PEAL EMPOWERS PARENTS TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS IN RESOLVING DISPUTES BY EDUCATING THEM ON THE BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION METHODS, SUCH AS MEDIATION. THE PEAL CENTER ALSO COLLABORATES WITH PROFESSIONALS AND POLICYMAKERS TO ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE PTI PROGRAMMING HAS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 6,000 PARENTS AND OVER 500 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING SESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, PEAL HAS DISTRIBUTED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION TO OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUALS AND PARTICIPATED IN 306 OUTREACH EVENTS, FURTHER EXTENDING PEAL'S IMPACT.
- $202,786 spent. DOH: THE PEAL CENTER WAS AWARDED FUNDING TO ENHANCE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS (CYSHCN) AND THIER FAMILIES, ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS A TRUSTED AND AUTHORITATIVE RESOURCE WITHIN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS INITIATIVE IS REALIZED THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT INCLUDES TRAINING PROGRAMS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND THE ORGANIZATION OF TWO ANNUAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCES HELD IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. ADDITIONALLY, THE INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO HIGH-RISK SUBPOPULATIONS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
- $134,734 spent. SPDG "THE STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT GRANT (SPDG)" IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE BUREAU OF SPECIAL EDUCATION (BSE), PATTAN, AND HUNE, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CULTIVATING AND SUSTAINING A ROBUST STATEWIDE NETWORK TO BUILD AWARENESS, EMPOWER FAMILIES AND LEAD CHANGE. THIS NETWORK IS DEDICATED TO CHAMPIONING THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, ENSURING THEY ARE EDUCATED WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 60 TRAINING SESSIONS AND HELD AN ADDITIONAL 30 MEETINGS WITH PARTNERS AND MEMBERS TO BOLSTER OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE AIMED AT ENHANCING UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESUMED COMPETENCE AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS. FURTHERMORE, OUR STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK, FAMILIES TO THE MAX, SAW SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, WITH MEMBERSHIP INCREASING FROM 350 TO 665, NOW REPRESENTING 80% OR 54 OF THE 67 COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE EXPANSION UNDERSCORES THE GROWING COMMITMENT AND ADVOCACY FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ACROSS PA. SPDG "THE STATE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT GRANT (SPDG)" IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE BUREAU OF SPECIAL EDUCATION (BSE), PATTAN, AND HUNE, HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CULTIVATING AND SUSTAINING A ROBUST STATEWIDE NETWORK TO BUILD AWARENESS, EMPOWER FAMILIES AND LEAD CHANGE. THIS NETWORK IS DEDICATED TO CHAMPIONING THE RIGHTS OF STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS, ENSURING THEY ARE EDUCATED WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE CONDUCTED 60 TRAINING SESSIONS AND HELD AN ADDITIONAL 30 MEETINGS WITH PARTNERS AND MEMBERS TO BOLSTER OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE AIMED AT ENHANCING UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF PRESUMED COMPETENCE AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS. FURTHERMORE, OUR STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK, FAMILIES TO THE MAX, SAW SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, WITH MEMBERSHIP INCREASING FROM 350 TO 665, NOW REPRESENTING 80% OR 54 OF THE 67 COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA. THE EXPANSION UNDERSCORES THE GROWING COMMITMENT AND ADVOCACY FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION ACROSS PA.
- $249,863 spent. YOUTH TRAINING & LEASDERSHIP: THE YOUTH TRAINING & LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE AT THE PEAL CENTER IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS BY ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS AND BOLSTERING THEIR SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS THROUGH COMBINED FUNDING FROM PTI, DOH, REAL (YOUTH INITIATIVES), AND UNITED WAY 21 & ABLE. THROUGH ACCESS TO PEAL'S COMPREHENSIVE TRAININGS, WEBINARS, AND RESOURCES, THESE YOUTH, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, SELF-ADVOCACY, HOUSING, AND OTHER CRITICAL SUPPORTS AND SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PEAL'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (YLA) OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS AND CONFIDENCE, ACQUIRE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, FORGE CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND UNCOVER VITAL RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH ENSURES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WELL-PREPARED TO NAVIGATE AND INFLUENCE THEIR FUTURES EFFECTIVELY. F2F: THE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION COORDINATOR (F2F-HIC) PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN GUIDING FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGH THE COMPLEXITIES OF PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. THIS VITAL SUUPORT EXTENDS TO FACILITATING OVERALL ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES AND RESOLVING ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH INSURANCE. THE F2F-HIC OFFERS PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES VIA PHONE, EMAIL, OR THROUGH OUR DEDICATED WEBSITE, ENSURING THAT HELP IS ALWAYS WITHIN REACH. ADDITIONALLY, THE F2F-HIC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON A RANGE OF HEALTHCARE TOPICS, INCLUDING THE CRUCIAL TRANSITION TO ADULT CARE, EQUIPPING FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR HEALTHCARE JOURNEYS EFFECTIVELY.
- YOUTH TRAINING & LEASDERSHIP: THE YOUTH TRAINING & LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE AT THE PEAL CENTER IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS BY ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR RIGHTS AND BOLSTERING THEIR SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS THROUGH COMBINED FUNDING FROM PTI, DOH, REAL (YOUTH INITIATIVES), AND UNITED WAY 21 & ABLE. THROUGH ACCESS TO PEAL'S COMPREHENSIVE TRAININGS, WEBINARS, AND RESOURCES, THESE YOUTH, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, GAIN VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF TRANSITIONING TO ADULTHOOD, INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT, SELF-ADVOCACY, HOUSING, AND OTHER CRITICAL SUPPORTS AND SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PEAL'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (YLA) OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS AND CONFIDENCE, ACQUIRE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, FORGE CONNECTIONS WITH PEERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND UNCOVER VITAL RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THIS HOLISTIC APPROACH ENSURES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WELL-PREPARED TO NAVIGATE AND INFLUENCE THEIR FUTURES EFFECTIVELY. F2F: THE FAMILY-TO-FAMILY HEALTH INFORMATION COORDINATOR (F2F-HIC) PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN GUIDING FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS THROUGH THE COMPLEXITIES OF PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. THIS VITAL SUUPORT EXTENDS TO FACILITATING OVERALL ACCESS TO NEEDED SERVICES AND RESOLVING ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH INSURANCE. THE F2F-HIC OFFERS PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES VIA PHONE, EMAIL, OR THROUGH OUR DEDICATED WEBSITE, ENSURING THAT HELP IS ALWAYS WITHIN REACH. ADDITIONALLY, THE F2F-HIC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING ON A RANGE OF HEALTHCARE TOPICS, INCLUDING THE CRUCIAL TRANSITION TO ADULT CARE, EQUIPPING FAMILIES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR HEALTHCARE JOURNEYS EFFECTIVELY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.