The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 75 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES (THE ARC) CHAMPIONS A LIFE OF INCLUSION, OPPORTUNITY, AND EQUITY FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTS. ITS VISION IS THAT ALL PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE VALUED, RESPECTED, AND FULLY INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY.
- Income
- $33.3 million
- Spending
- $30.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 97%
- Employees
- 1,074
- Volunteers
- 88
- Highest pay
- $162,268, chief financial officer
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 75 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 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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)
- $2.0 million spent. SPARC:THE SPARC PROGRAM IS BOTH A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM AND A STATE-LICENSED ADULT FACILITY PROGRAM THAT SERVICES ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) IN LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. THE SPARC PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD TO EXPLORE INTERESTS, DEVELOP SKILLS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN A SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE SPARC PROGRAM ADDRESSES EACH PERSON'S UNIQUE NEEDS THROUGH A PERSON-CENTERED APPROACH TO HELP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP DAILY LIVING SKILLS THROUGH COMMUNICATION, SOCIALIZATION, HABILITATION, AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. THE SPARC PROGRAM DELIVERS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION SUPPORTS (CPS), WHICH OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL GROWTH IN INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THE SPARC PROGRAM ALSO DELIVERS ADULT FACILITY-BASED SERVICE, WHICH PROVIDES AN ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT WITH ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT TO BUILD SKILLS AND EXPLORE INTERESTS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE TO ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF OPTIONS BASED ON THEIR ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHOICE THAT INCLUDES COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, DAILY LIVING SKILLS, PRE-EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, AND FACILITY-BASED SERVICES.
- $24.5 million spent. AGENCY WITH CHOICE:THE AGENCY WITH CHOICE (AWC) PROGRAM IS A PERSON-CENTERED PROGRAM BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF SELF-DETERMINATION. THE AWC PROGRAM EMPOWERS PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES BY PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER THEIR SERVICES AND SUPPORTS; THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EACH PERSON BEST KNOWS THEIR OWN NEEDS AND HOW THOSE NEEDS SHOULD BE MET.AN INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATING IN THE AWC PROGRAM CAN BE THEIR OWN MANAGING EMPLOYER (ME) OR IDENTIFY A SURROGATE TO ACT ON THEIR BEHALF AS THE ME. THE ME CAN SELECT THE SUPPORT SERVICE PROFESSIONALS (SSPS) AND DIRECT PROVISION OF SERVICES. THE SSP WILL BE HIRED AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE ARC AS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD AND THE ARC WILL ASSUME ANY LIABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYMENT, BUT THE DAY-TO-DAY DIRECTION AND CONTROL OF SERVICE ACTIVITIES IS UNDER THE ME'S PURVIEW.
- $357,844 spent. ADVOCACY:THE ARC OF LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FREE RESOURCE COORDINATION, TRAINING, AND INDIVIDUALIZED ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) AND THEIR FAMILIES IN LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON COUNTIES. GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF COLLABORATION, EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, AND SELF-ADVOCACY, THE DEPARTMENT STRIVES TO BRIDGE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PERSON-CENTERED PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS THAT ADDRESS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM INDEPENDENCE AND INCLUSION.RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH VARIOUS METHODS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH, VIRTUAL WEBINARS, AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE ARC BY PHONE OR EMAIL. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES MAY ALSO REQUEST INFORMATION BY COMPLETING THE INTAKE FORM AVAILABLE ON THE ARC'S WEBSITE.
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 2010.
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.