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Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential

EIN 23-1465452 · Wyndmoor, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceFair55 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTES FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HUMAN POTENTIAL IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN AND TREATMENT OF NORMAL PERSONS, AS WELL AS PERSONS AFFLICTED WITH PROBLEMS OF MOVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION, AND TO TEACH AND DEVELOP NEW PROCEDURES.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
39
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$80,160, secretary & administrator

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. HURT CHILDREN PROGRAM - HISTORICALLY, CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY, CEREBRAL PALSY, AUTISM, TRISOMY 21 (DOWN SYNDROME), ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, HYPERACTIVITY, LEARNING PROBLEMS, DYSLEXIA, AND A HOST OF OTHER SYMPTOMATIC DIAGNOSES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED HOPELESS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INSTITUTES IS TO TAKE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, HOWEVER SEVERELY HURT, AND HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE NORMALITY PHYSICALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, PHYSIOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY. THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN ACHIEVE ONE OF THESE GOALS, AND MANY CHILDREN ACHIEVE TWO OF THESE GOALS. SOME CHILDREN ACHIEVE ALL OF THESE GOALS, AND SOME CHILDREN ACHIEVE NONE OF THESE GOALS.
  2. $643,458 spent. WELL CHILDREN PROGRAM - THE INSTITUTES IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FOR ITS PIONEERING WORK IN CHILD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE INSTITUTES IS TO HELP ALL CHILDREN ACHIEVE INTELLECTUAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL EXCELLENCE. WHEN THE INSTITUTES BEGAN MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY AGO, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT VERY YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT ABLE TO LEARN MUCH. MANY THOUGHT AT THAT TIME THAT INTELLIGENCE WAS GENETICALLY DETERMINED AND ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGEABLE. GLENN DOMAN AND HIS EARLY TEAM QUESTIONED THIS NOTION. THEY PROPOSED THAT THE BRAIN HAD ENORMOUS POTENTIAL AND THAT THIS POTENTIAL WAS NOT BEING FULLY REALIZED. THEY WANTED TO GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE TO BE WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO BE AND TO BE THE VERY BEST THEY COULD ACHIEVE. WELL CHILDREN CAN ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE.
  3. $75,299 spent. GENTLE REVOLUTION PRESS - THE INSTITUTES CREATES, PUBLISHES, AND DISTRIBUTES THE HIGHEST-QUALITY MATERIALS AND BOOKS TO FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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? 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    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 October 1957.

    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.