Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cardinal Hayes School for Special Children

EIN 22-2511306 · Millbrook, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE EDUATIONAL PROGRAMS IN A LOVING, CARING ENVIRONMENT FOR DISABLED STUDENTS. CHS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT DAY SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS WHO ARE MULTIPLY DISABLED. CHARTERED IN 1984, THE SCHOOL IS CERTIFIED AND RECEIVED PUBLIC FUNDING THROUGH THE NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Income
$4.7 million
Spending
$4.7 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
80
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$235,383, 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: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 74% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (1)
  1. $4.3 million spent. CARDINAL HAYES SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IS AFFILIATED WITH CARDINAL HAYES HOME FOR CHILDREN, A NYS OPWDD CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED - ICF/DD. THE SCHOOL PROVIDES SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR MANY OF THE CHILDREN WHO RESIDE AT CARDINAL HAYES HOME. THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CARDINAL HAYES SCHOOL ALSO ACCEPTS AS DAY STUDENTS SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WHO RESIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. BOTH AMBULATORY AND NON-AMBULATORY YOUNGSTERS ATTEND THE SCHOOL. CHS PROVIDES A HOLISTIC, INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM TO PROMOTE INTELLECTUAL, SENSORY AND PHYSICAL GROWTH ACCORDING TO EACH STUDENTS CAPACITY. THE GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE STUDENTS, BRINGING THEM INTO AS FULL PARTICIPATION AS POSSIBLE WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM. AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN IS DEVELOPED FOR EACH STUDENT ACCORDING TO HIS OR HER CAPACITY, LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING, NEEDS, STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. OUR CURRICULUM IS ALIGNED WITH THE NYS ALTERNATE LEARNING STANDARDS AND INCLUDES COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, VERBAL BEHAVIOR APPROACHES, ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SELF HELP SKILLS, MULTI-SENSORY INTEGRATIONS, ACTIVE LEARNING, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION. STAFFING FOR THE SCHOOL INCLUDES SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS CERTIFIED BY THE NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND CLASSROOM AIDES WHO ARE TRAINED THROUGH IN-SERVICE PROGRAMS. SOME STUDENTS REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE OF A 1-1 AIDE. OTHER LICENSED PROFESSIONALS SERVING THE SCHOOL INCLUDE - PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND SPEECH THERAPISTS, TEACHERS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED, ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR, NURSE, AND MUSIC THERAPIST.CHILDREN ARE REFERRED BY THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT'S COMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE TUITION RATE FOR THE SCHOOL IS ESTABLISHED BY THE NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TUITION PAYMENTS AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION FOR PUPILS ATTENDING THE PROGRAM.

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

  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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.

    The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.

    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 March 1946.

    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 November 4, 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.