Community Day Nursery
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
IT IS THE MISSION OF COMMUNITY DAY NURSERY TO PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EACH CHILD'S POTENTIAL FOR EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IS NURTURED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $2.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 22 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 83%
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $141,484, executive director
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 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)
- $1.7 million spent. PROVIDE PRESCHOOL, DAY CARE AND FAMILY COUNSELING PROGRAMS IN THE EAST ORANGE AREA. SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT-SCHEDULE O.
- $110,257 spent. SUMMER PROGRAM:THE CDN SUMMER PROGRAM IS A FULL-DAY PROGRAM THAT BEGINS WHEN THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR ENDS OFFERING CARE FOR CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2024, 43 CHILDREN ATTENDED OUR SUMMER PROGRAM. THE SUMMER STAFFING PATTERN INCORPORATES STAGGERED HOURS ALLOWING TEACHERS AND ASSISTANTS TO EARN REVENUE DURING THESE MONTHS. WE GIVE PRIORITY TO OUR STAFF WHEN WE HIRE SUMMER PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS. OUR FULL-DAY SUMMER PROGRAM OFFERS A CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS COGNITIVE SKILLS INCLUDING LITERACY AND MATH. TO SUPPORT OUR SUMMER STAFF, WE BRING IN EXPERTS IN YOGA AND MUSIC TO SUPPLEMENT THE PROGRAM. THE "FARM CHICKS" INTRODUCED THE CHILDREN TO SMALL FARM ANIMALS INCLUDING DUCKS AND CHICKENS. WE INVITED GUESTS TO VISIT WHO ALLOW CHILDREN TO EXPLORE NEW IDEAS AND BUILD ON PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AS THEY ENGAGE IN PROJECTS THAT ALLOW THEM TO LOOK FOR ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS AND TEST OUT THEIR OWN THEORIES. THE CDN SUMMER PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH CONSISTENT CARE AND GUIDANCE THAT WILL PROMOTE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING.
- (CONTINUED FROM FORM 990, PAGE 2 LINE 1) IT IS OUR GOAL TO STRENGTHEN A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF PARENTING SERVICES AND GROUP ACTIVITIES.
- (CONTINUED FROM FORM 990, PAGE 2 LINE 4A) THE COMMUNITY DAY NURSERY (CDN) FULL-DAY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WHO RESIDE IN EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. OUR WRAP AROUND PROGRAM OFFERS AN EXTENDED DAY, BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE YOUNG CHILDREN WITH A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH EACH CHILD'S POTENTIAL FOR EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IS NURTURED. WE WERE FULLY ENROLLED AT 90 CHILDREN, AS PER OUR CONTRACT WITH THE EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE FOUND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES CONTINUE TO BE HIGH, COMPRISING 25% OF OUR ENTIRE POPULATION. EACH OF OUR SIX CLASSROOMS IS LED BY A TEACHER AND TEACHER ASSISTANT AND A MAXIMUM OF FIFTEEN CHILDREN. TWO CLASSROOMS ARE BILINGUAL SPANISH/ENGLISH. THE SCHOOL YEAR CURRICULUM IS RESEARCH-BASED TOOLS OF THE MIND. OUR TEACHERS DOCUMENT AND ASSESS CHILDREN'S LEARNING VIA THE TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD ONLINE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM, AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ARE ASSESSED FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS VIA THE MYIGDIS ASSESSMENT TOOL. OUR LITERACY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH GRANTS PROVIDED BY FIRST BOOK, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, THAT CONNECTS BOOK PUBLISHERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO NEW BOOKS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. CHILDREN SPEND TIME OUTDOORS EVERY DAY. A SPEECH THERAPIST FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROVIDES SPEECH THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED IT ONCE A WEEK IN OUR BUILDING, AND OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS COME TO PROVIDE THEIR SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING THIS ASSISTANCE. OUR CHILDREN ARE SERVED A FRESHLY PREPARED BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACK EACH DAY. THE CHILD AND ADULT FOOD CARE PROGRAM (CACFP) PROVIDES FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THAT IS APPLIED TOWARD FOOD, FOOD WORKERS' SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM. WE ALSO RECEIVE A FOOD STIPEND AND A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALARY/BENEFITS FOR THE COOK FROM THE EAST ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION. HOWEVER, TO MAINTAIN THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE FOOD PREPARED ALSO REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM PRIVATE SPONSORS. ENROLLMENT HAS TRENDED DOWNWARD SINCE THE PANDEMIC. NINETY CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED FOR THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR. THE RACIAL/ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS OF THE CHILDREN ARE AS FOLLOWS: TWENTY ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN; THIRTY ARE HISPANIC; SEVENTEEN ARE HAITIAN; SIX ARE AFRICAN; THREE ARE GUYANESE; ONE IS WHITE; ONE IS ASIAN; AND TWELVE ARE JAMAICAN. THIRTY-FIVE ARE GIRLS AND FIFTY-FIVE ARE BOYS. APPROXIMATELY FIFTY-TWO PERCENT OF OUR FAMILIES QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED MEALS THROUGH THE FDA CACFP. THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF EAST ORANGE SHOW A GROWING HISPANIC POPULATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS IS A LARGER PERCENTAGE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO SPEAK SPANISH OR HAITIAN CREOLE AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS SPEAK SPANISH. BECAUSE OF BILINGUAL STAFF, PARENTS FEEL WELCOMED AND CARED FOR. THE SISTERS, BROTHERS AND COUSINS OF CHILDREN THAT ATTENDED COMMUNITY DAY NURSERY CONTINUE TO REQUEST OUR CENTER WHEN ENROLLING. WE INVITE FAMILY PARTICIPATION THROUGH "BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT", "BRING A PARENT TO SCHOOL DAY", MONTHLY PARENT MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WORKSHOPS. PARENT MEETINGS HAVE INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS ON LEAD POISONING PREVENTION, DENTAL HYGIENE, AND A WELLNESS MEETING FOR MOMS FOR MOTHER'S MAY. WE HELD OUR FIRST "IT TAKES A VILLAGE" PARENT WORKSHOP IN THE SPRING. THE MEETING ON A SATURDAY WAS A CONFERENCE FORMAT WITH SEVERAL PARENT EDUCATION WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS WHICH PARENTS COULD CHOOSE TO ATTEND, A LIGHT BREAKFAST, LUNCH, CHILDCARE, AND GIVEAWAYS. ANY PARENT OF A YOUNG CHILD WAS WELCOME, NOT JUST THE PARENTS OF OUR ENROLLED CHILDREN. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED, AND A FUN AND INFORMATIVE WAY TO BUILD COMMUNITY. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WORKS FULL-TIME, OVER TWELVE-MONTHS TO MANAGE THE PROGRAM AND IS SUPPORTED BY A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (FORMERLY EMPLOYED BY THE STATE OF NJ, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDCARE LICENSING) AND A FULL-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. CDN EMPLOYS SIX STATE-CERTIFIED TEACHERS, TWO WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND FOUR WITH MASTER'S DEGREES; SIX TEACHER ASSISTANTS WHO WORK TEN-MONTHS (SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE) FOR SEVEN HOURS PER DAY, AND THREE PARAPROFESSIONAL FAMILY SUPPORT STAFF. OUR COOK PREPARES ALL OUR MEALS IN OUR KITCHEN USING FRESH INGREDIENTS AND WITH THE HELP OF THE KITCHEN ASSISTANT. WE EMPLOY A PART TIME CUSTODIAN WHO ALSO SERVES AS A SECURITY GUARD. THE EAST ORANGE SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REQUIRES THE TOOLS OF THE MIND CURRICULUM AND HAS IMPLEMENTED AN ASSESSMENT SYSTEM TO MONITOR CHILDREN'S ACADEMIC GROWTH. TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD IS AN ONLINE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS TEACHERS TO USE A VARIETY OF TOOLS TO GATHER AND ORGANIZE MEANINGFUL DATA QUICKLY, INCLUDING ONLINE PORTFOLIOS WHERE CHILDREN'S WORK CAN BE STORED. TEACHERS GENERATE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS THAT CAN BE CUSTOMIZED EASILY AND SHARED WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENABLE THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THEIR YOUNG CHILD'S GROWTH. TEACHERS ALSO ASSESS CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT USING THE ESI-R SCREENING TOOL AND THE MYIGDI READINESS FOR KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT TOOL. WE SUPPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM WITH SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING YOGA AND MUSIC, A BABY CHICK HATCHING PROJECT, AND A FIELD TRIP TO PICK PUMPKINS IN THE FALL. ALL TEACHING STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE TWENTY HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EACH YEAR. THE EAST ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT SUPPORTS THE CURRICULUM AND THE ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS. THE EAST ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESCHOOL COACH AND THE PRESCHOOL INTERVENTION RESPONSE SPECIALIST ASSIGNED TO OUR SCHOOL PROVIDES COACHING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE HELPFUL TO OUR STAFF. PROGRAM FOR PARENTS WE STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAMILIES, THROUGH A VARIETY OF PARENTING SERVICES AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. FAMILY WORKERS HOST MONTHLY PARENT MEETINGS THAT INTRODUCE
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
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 December 2024.
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 April 1956.
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.
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