Federation Day Care Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
FEDERATION EARLY LEARNING SERVICES (FELS) PROVIDES EXCELLENCE IN CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL FAMILIES FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE DELAWARE VALLEY. BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF JEWISH VALUES AND TRADITIONS FOR OVER A CENTURY, FELS IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER, HELPING FAMILIES ACCESS AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, AND CONSULTATION SERVICES TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $9.0 million
- Spending
- $9.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 89%
- Employees
- 222
- Volunteers
- 177
- Highest pay
- $201,939, former president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 96 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, 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 2519 of 19 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 August 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 (1)
- $7.7 million spent. FELS OPERATES FIVE CENTERS IN THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA FOR APPROXIMATELY 450 CHILDREN RANGING FROM SIX WEEKS TO 12 YEARS OLD. FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF FELS CHILDREN ARE FROM LOW-INCOME, WORKING FAMILIES, AND FIFTY PERCENT LIVE IN SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS.FELS PROVIDES EXCELLENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES FROM DIVERSE ECONOMIC, RELIGIOUS, AND RACIAL BACKGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE DELAWARE VALLEY. WITH NATIONAL AND STATE-ACCREDITED PROGRAMS, FELS UPHOLDS THE HIGHEST LEARNING AND SAFETY STANDARDS. BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF JEWISH VALUES AND TRADITIONS, FELS IS A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN HELPING FAMILIES ACCESS AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND PROVIDING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. WE HONOR AND RESPECT THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES OF ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED AND STAFF WORKING IN OUR PROGRAMS, AND OUR NON-SECTARIAN POLICIES PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 November 6, 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 August 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 August 1960.
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 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.