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My Place to Be

EIN 20-5187025 · Newark, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceFair57 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 134 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

"MY PLACE TO BE" 'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO LEARN IN A POSITIVE WAY. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE ALL CHILDREN ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. "MY PLACE TO BE" IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE TIME, TOOLS AND

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$975,410
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
21
Highest pay
$63,769, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 134 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 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 (4)
  1. $839,370 spent. "MY PLACE TO BE" S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO LEARN IN A POSITIVE WAY. THIS IS A PLACE WHERE ALL CHILDREN ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. "MY PLACE TO BE" IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE TIME, TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR ALL CHILDREN.
  2. MY PLACE TO BE IS A STATE OF OHIO NON CHARERED PRIVATE SCHOOL WHICH IS A PROVIDER OF THE JON PETERSON SPECIAL NEEDS AND AUTISM SCHOLARSHIP. WE PROVIDE A MULTI-SENSORY APPROACH TO LEARNING FOR CHILDREN GRADES 1-12. oUR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTS A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO LEARNING. ACADEMICS ARE TAUGHT IN A SMALL GROUP LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHICH CATERS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS' LEARNINF STYLES AND NEEDS. PROGRAMS INCORPORATE MEDITATION AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING CLASSES TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS NEEDED TO HELP THEM HANDLE LIFE CHALLENGES IN A POSITIVE WAY.
  3. SUMMER PROGRAMS - EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES. DUE TO OUR STUDENTS SPECIAL NEEDS AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE, EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT SO THEY DO NOT LOSE ANY PROGRESS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM IS A CAMP LIKE SETTING WHERE STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH EXPLORATION. WE ALSO PROVIDE A TRANSITIONS CAMP PROGRAM FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ASSISTS WITH JOB AND LIFE SKILLS AND CAREER EXPLORATION TO PREPARE THEM FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
  4. AFTER SCHOOL - SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS THE TOOL;S TO BUILD A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL BASE TO HELP THEM MAKE AND MAINTAIN FRIENDSHIPS, HANDLE STRONG EMOTIONS IN A POSITIVE WAY, STAND UP TO BULLIES BUILD STRONG SELF-REGULATION SKILLS , AND POSITIVE SELF ESTEEM. THIS PROGRAM WAS PLACED IN HOLD IN 2021 DUE TO COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS AND RESTARTED IN SEPTEMBER, 2022.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 2025.

    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 August 2007.

    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.