Princeton Child Development Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PCDI PROVIDES LIFELONG, SCIENCE-BASED SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM, EXTENDING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND AGE 21. OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE EARLY INTERVENTION, K-12 EDUCATION, HOME-BASED PARENT TRAINING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES. THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED, EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES, WE UNLOCK EACH LEARNER'S UNIQUE POTENTIAL, FOSTERING GROWTH, INDEPENDENCE, AND DIGNITY. DEDICATED TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO VITAL RESOURCES, WE LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND INNOVATION TO CREATE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
- Income
- $11.5 million
- Spending
- $10.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 18.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 87%
- Employees
- 141
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $180,152, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
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 June 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 (4)
- $4.5 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMPCDI'S EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES A TRUSTED ENVIRONMENT WHERE PRE-SCHOOLERS AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN WITH AUTISM THRIVE. ACCREDITED BY THE MERCER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OUR PRE-SCHOOL AND K-12 PROGRAMS, TAILORED FOR AGES 3 TO 21, COMBINE INTENSIVE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH ENGAGING GROUP ACTIVITIES THAT FOSTER LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL INTEGRATION, AND PEER INTERACTION. EACH CHILD BENEFITS FROM AN INDIVIDUALIZED CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE FACING SEVERE BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES. FAMILIES PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE THROUGH PARENT TRAINING AND HOME PROGRAMMING SERVICES, EMPOWERING THEM TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S PROGRESS. EXPERT STAFF PROVIDE ONGOING CONSULTATION, ENSURING PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE. WHEN FIRST ENROLLED AT PCDI, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ADEQUATE SUPPORTS THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, LEAVING FAMILIES TO ADVOCATE TIRELESSLY FOR THEIR NEEDS. AT PCDI, WE PROVIDE THE CRITICAL RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO HELP CHILDREN WITH AUTISM REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.
- $2.4 million spent. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMSESTABLISHED IN 1977, FAMILY FOCUS PROGRAM PIONEERED NEW JERSEY'S FIRST GROUP HOME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTISM. WITH THE ADDITION OF OUR LATEST RESIDENTIAL SETTING THIS YEAR, PCDI NOW HAS THREE (3) FAMILY-STYLE GROUP HOMES. PCDI EXTENDS AROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE TO INDIVIDUALS, SOME WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES. HOMES ARE STAFFED BY DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL FAMILY TEACHERS WHO RESIDE ON-SITE, FOSTERING SUCCESSFUL FAMILY-PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCES. RESIDENTS ENGAGE IN A RANGE OF FAMILY-STYLE ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE LANGUAGE SKILLS, RECREATIONAL PURSUITS, DAILY LIVING ABILITIES, HEALTH, HYGIENE, AND PERSONAL SAFETY. TAILORED PROGRAMS PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION INITIATION AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS, WHILE FREQUENT COMMUNITY OUTINGS EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO INTEGRATE FULLY INTO COMMUNITY LIFE. IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S JOURNEY IS GUIDED WITH COMPASSION AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT. IN OUR SUPERVISED APARTMENT PROGRAM, ADULTS WITH AUTISM EXPERIENCE INDEPENDENT LIVING WITH PCDI PROFESSIONALS' GUIDANCE. THEY RECEIVE TAILORED INSTRUCTION IN SELF-CARE, HOME MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS FOCUS ON DEVELOPING SOCIAL INTERACTION SKILLS, BUDGET MANAGEMENT, AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN DIVERSE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. AT PCDI, WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO THRIVE IN THEIR OWN APARTMENTS WHILE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT FOR THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE.
- $2.0 million spent. ADULT LIFE-SKILLS PROGRAMALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION TO OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH ADULTHOOD, PCDI'S ADULT LIFE-SKILLS PROGRAM PROVIDES PERSONALIZED SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES, ADULTS WITH AUTISM ARE EMPOWERED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE IN VARIOUS ROLES SUCH AS DATA ENTRY, FOOD SERVICE, ASSEMBLY, AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS IN AREAS LIKE MONEY MANAGEMENT, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AT PCDI, WE ARE COMMITTED TO NURTURING INDIVIDUALS' INDEPENDENCE AND SUCCESS ACROSS ALL STAGES OF LIFE.
- OTHERS
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1970.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.