United Cerebral Palsy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 48% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROMOTE THE INDEPENDENCE AND INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH CEREBRAL PALSY, INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, AND OTHER DISABILITIES THROUGH OUR NETWORK OF AFFILIATES AND PARTNERSHIPS.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 48%
- Reserves
- 23.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 57%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 119
- Highest pay
- $287,678, president & ceo
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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 23.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 86% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1548% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
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 (3)
- $665,304 spent. SUPPORT OF AFFILIATES: APPROXIMATELY 56 LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS OR UCP AFFILIATES (54 IN THE US AND 2 IN CANADA) REACH APPROXIMATELY 200,000 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES ANNUALLY. AFFILIATE SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, RESPITE CARE, ADVOCACY, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT, EARLY LEARNING AND K-12 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION THERAPIES, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DAY PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. UCP NATIONAL SUPPORTS THE NETWORK OF MEMBERS THROUGH AFFILIATE AND NATIONAL REVENUE SHARING PROGRAMS (ONLINE GIVING, THE VEHICLE DONATION PROGRAM, DIRECT MAIL, AND WORKPLACE GIVING). IN ADDITION, UCP NATIONAL FACILITATES A NATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING, REGIONAL AFFILIATE CONVENINGS, CEO TOWN HALLS, EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS OR TOPICAL CALLS, CASE FOR INCLUSION ANNUAL REPORT, FEDERAL-LEVEL ADVOCACY, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES FOR CLINICAL ROLES, RESEARCH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND TRAININGS.
- $375,097 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION: THE UCP AFFILIATES PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ANNUALLY, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, ONE FAMILY AT A TIME, MEETING THE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT EACH POSSESSES. THROUGH OUR NETWORK, UCP PROVIDES SUCH DIVERSE PROGRAMS AS CHILDCARE, SUPPORTED LIVING, EDUCATION, HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, EARLY INTERVENTION, JOB TRAINING, RESEARCH, DAY PROGRAMS, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. UCP SUPPORTS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND SOCIAL NETWORKING RESOURCES TO PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE US AND CANADA AFFILIATED REGIONS. IN ADDITION, UCP EDUCATES AND INFORMS THE AFFILIATE NETWORK THROUGH THE LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS AND NETWORK NEWS E-NEWSLETTER, INCLUDING WEBINARS, SUCH AS THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES, AND VIA TOWN HALLS, TOPICAL CALLS, AND ANNUAL/REGIONAL MEETINGS. THE ANNUAL MEETING PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION ON CEREBRAL PALSY AND DISABILITY-RELATED ISSUES, AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPY/DEVELOPMENT, STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY, GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP TOPICS, AND OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION. UCP ALSO EDUCATES THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH THE LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS NEWSLETTER, THE UCP WEBSITE, AND THE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AROUND THE GLOBE IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES INCLUDING A TEXT-TO-SPEECH AND TRANSLATION FEATURE ON THE UCP WEBSITE. THROUGH THE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL (I&R) SERVICES VIA ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH AN AFFILIATE, INDIVIDUALS CAN OBTAIN INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL RESOURCES BY EITHER CALLING A TOLL-FREE NUMBER OR SUBMITTING AN INQUIRY VIA THE UCP WEBSITE. BI-LINGUAL STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER INQUIRIES IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. UCP PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
- $334,149 spent. NON-FEDERAL (BELLOWS): ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY OFTEN PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS ANY ITEM, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, OR PRODUCT THAT IS USED TO INCREASE, MAINTAIN, OR IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. UCP OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH OUR NON-FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM, THE BELLOWS GRANT, WHICH HELPS PAY FOR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE THIS LIFE CHANGING EQUIPMENT OR SPECIAL DEVICES. USE OF THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH UCP AFFILIATES.
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 May 2006.
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.