Jespy House
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (I/DD) THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND LEAD INDEPENDENT LIVES. JESPY'S PHILOSOPHY PROMOTES INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, SELF-DIRECTION, AND INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY LIVING FOR 250 CLIENTS IN SOUTH ORANGE, NJ.
- Income
- $13.9 million
- Spending
- $10.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 64%
- Employees
- 122
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $297,555, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 22% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 23 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 18 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 (3)
- $3.6 million spent. THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS (RCBS) PROGRAM SUPPORTS CLIENTS ON THEIR INDEPENDENCE JOURNEY, OFFERING CLIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN WITH THE SUPPORT OF JESPY'S TEAM OF CASE MANAGERS AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS (DLS) COUNSELORS. NEW RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS (USUALLY YOUNG ADULTS) START OUT IN "THE RESIDENCE", A SUPERVISED APARTMENT SETTING WITH 24/7 SUPPORT. THE RESIDENCE OFFERS OUR CLIENTS THEIR FIRST TASTE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. EACH CLIENT HAS HIS OR HER OWN BEDROOM AND SHARES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE APARTMENT WITH THEIR ROOMMATES. OUR DEDICATED TEAM TEACHES OUR CLIENTS TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR APARTMENTS, HOW TO BE SAFE IN THE COMMUNITY, HOW TO GROCERY SHOP, PREPARE MEALS, MANAGE MONEY, PAY BILLS, AND DO CHORES. MOST CLIENTS SPEND 2-4 YEARS IN THE RESIDENCE, AND WHEN THEY HAVE MASTERED THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY, THEY MOVE TO ONE OF OUR FIVE SHARED HOUSES, WHICH OFFERS A HOME-LIKE SETTING WITH ROOMMATES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A CASE MANAGER, OR TO INDEPENDENT APARTMENTS OR CONDOMINIUMS (NOT JESPY OWNED) IN THE COMMUNITY WITH SUPPORTS FROM JESPY STAFF.JESPY'S FIVE SHARED HOUSES ARE LOCATED WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO JESPY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. CLIENTS LIVE WITH HOUSEMATES IN OUR SHARED HOUSES. EACH CLIENT HAS HIS OR HER OWN BEDROOM AND SHARES LIVING AND KITCHEN SPACE. THEY PREPARE MEALS TOGETHER AND SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A HOUSEHOLD LIKE A FAMILY. EACH SHARED HOUSE HAS A HOUSE MANAGER WHO SERVES AS THE CASE MANAGER TO THE CLIENTS IN THAT HOUSE. CLIENTS WHO REQUIRE DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING STILL RECEIVE THOSE HANDS-ON SERVICES. MOST CLIENTS WHO LIVE IN SHARED HOUSING ARE EMPLOYED OR INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEER WORK. CLIENTS RECEIVE 24/7 SUPPORT IN THIS SETTING.MOST CLIENTS WHO RESIDE IN THE JESPY COMMUNITY LIVE ON THEIR OWN OR WITH A ROOMMATE IN THEIR OWN APARTMENTS OR CONDOMINIUMS WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS PROGRAM. THESE CLIENTS HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM ONE OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, HAVING DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY ARE READY FOR THIS STEP TO FUTHER THEIR INDEPENDENCE GOALS. EACH CLIENT RECEIVES SERVICES THROUGH JESPY'S COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS PROGRAM AND IS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE THEIR CARE. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED.OUR CASE MANAGERS AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS COUNSELORS ARE KEY TO OUR CLIENTS' SUCCESS. CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE OUR CLIENTS WITH INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES TO ENSURE THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET AND PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT AS THEY WORK TOWARD INDEPENDENCE AND STRIVE TO REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS. OUR DAILY LIVING SKILLS COUNSELORS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE, TOO, PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH HANDS-ON TRAINING BASED ON THE CLIENT'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, SUCH AS MEAL PLANNING, BUDGETING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT, CLEANING AND ORGANIZING. OUR CBS PROGRAM ALSO WORKS WITH OUR CLIENTS ON GOOD SAFETY HABITS, HOW TO SAFELY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HOW TO INTERACT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE, AND HOW TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEIR PEERS.
- $823,573 spent. OUR POPULAR RECREATION PROGRAM, KNOWN AS THE ENGAGEMENT AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (EEP), PROVIDES CLIENTS WITH NUMEROUS OUTLETS FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION, SOCIALIZATION, AND SELF DISCOVERY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. CLIENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM SEVERAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING YOGA, PHOTOGRAPHY, FIBER ARTS, POETRY, BOOK CLUBS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, CHORUS, THEATER ARTS, EXERCISE, FILM MAKING, GAMES, AND MORE, IN ADDITION TO A VARIETY OF TRIP OPTIONS.A YOUNG ADULT GROUP WAS ADDED TO HELP CLIENTS SOCIALIZE AND FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH OTHERS WHO ARE NAVIGATING A PERIOD OF TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. THIS APPROACH STRENGTHENS THE BOND AMONG NEW CLIENTS AS WELL AS WITH THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THE GROUP FOCUSES ON COMMON SOCIAL GOALS AND HELPS CLIENTS LEARN TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN LASTING FRIENDSHIPS.OUR ATHLETICS & FITNESS PROGRAM OFFERS CLIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN TEAM SPORTS, INDIVIDUAL FITNESS TRAINING, AND GROUP TRAINING. THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND OVERALL PHYSICAL FITNESS WHILE PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SKILLS. OUR PERSONAL TRAINERS AND COACHES SPECIALIZE IN WORKING WITH ADULTS WITH IDD, HELPING THEM TO ESTABLISH AND REACH THEIR INDIVIDUAL FITNESS GOALS. MANY CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS WHERE JESPY REPRESENTS THE LARGEST GROUP OF ATHLETES IN ESSEX COUNTY. CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN OVER A DOZEN SPORTS AND ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE, FUN AND EXCITEMENT SPECIAL OLYMPICS GENERATES.
- $751,896 spent. THE DAY HABILITATION PROGRAM PROVIDES A STRUCTURED DAILY SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR OVER 120 CLIENTS FIVE DAYS A WEEK FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM. OUR PROGRAM CONTINUE TO GROW, AS MORE AND MORE CLIENTS LEARN OF OUR QUALITY PROGRAM. TO BEST ACCOMMODATE OUR INCREASED ENROLLMENT AND ENSURE OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICES, THE DAY PROGRAM NOW OFFERS DISTINCT GROUPS: DAY HABILITATION, LIFE SKILLS, TRANSITION, AND AGING IN PLACE. OUR PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARD CLIENTS WHO ARE RECENTLY OUT OF SCHOOL, THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO JESPY, AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING ON A FULL-TIME BASIS. WITHIN EACH COMPONENT, CLIENTS PARTICIPATE IN GROUP WORKSHOPS THAT PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES TO LEARN AND REINFORCE JOB AND MONEY SKILLS; MEAL PLANNING; HOUSEKEEPING; KITCHEN SAFETY; AND SOCIAL AND COPING SKILLS. IN ADDITION, THE DAY HABILITATION PROGRAM OFFERS CLIENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNWIND AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH CRAFT AND ART PROJECTS; ENGAGE IN ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES; AND ENJOY TRIPS AND OUTINGS INTO THE COMMUNITY. RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE PROGRAM INCLUDE GOAL SETTING; PROBLEM SOLVING; AND COMMUNITY AND INTERNET SAFETY.
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 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 June 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 October 1979.
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.