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Lakeside Youth Service

EIN 23-6050758 · North Wales, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 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

LAKESIDE EXISTS TO EMPOWER YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS THROUGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL AND TREATMENT SERVICES.

Income
$27.2 million
Spending
$30.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
-3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 97%
Employees
439
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$209,817, president/ceo

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 97% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (8)
  1. $6.0 million spent. LAKESIDE SCHOOL ACCEPTS REGULAR AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-12 WHO NEED A SMALL STRUCTURED AND NURTURING THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE ACADEMIC SUCCESS IS A PRIORITY. DURING THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR, LAKESIDE SCHOOL SERVED 172 STUDENTS. OF THOSE, 14 STUDENTS GRADUATED , 22 RETURNED TO THEIR HOME DISTRICT, 90 WERE DISCHARGED AND 82 WILL CONTINUE AT LAKESIDE FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR.
  2. $7.7 million spent. IN-SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE EQUIPPED TO WORK WITH ALL SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOL. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN WHICH IN-SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK. STUDENTS TYPICALLY SERVED INCLUDE THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED NEEDS. IN THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR 6,760 STUDENTS WERE SERVED IN GROUP AND/OR INDIVIDUALLY, OF WHICH 280 GRADUATED, 2,140 WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1,711 IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND 2,184 IN HIGH SCHOOL. CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES WERE ALSO PROVIDED, 1,428 SUICIDE/CRISIS ASSESSMENTS, 214 HOSPITALIZATIONS AND 152 CHILDLINE CALLS.
  3. $2.3 million spent. THE SOUDERTON VANTAGE ACADEMY ACCEPTS REGULAR AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN GRADES 7-12 WHO NEED A SMALL, STRUCTURED AND NURTURING THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE ACADEMIC SUCCESS IS A PRIORITY. THE SOUDERTON VANTAGE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM IS HOUSED IN THE SAME FACILITY AND PROVIDES THE SAME STRUCTURE AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5 & 6. DURING THE 24-25 SCHOOL YEAR THE TWO PROGRAMS COMBINED SERVED 84 STUDENTS, OF WHICH 12 GRADUATED, 11 RETURNED TO THEIR HOME DISTRICT, 39 WERE DISCHARGED AND 45 ARE RETURNING FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR.
  4. $1.5 million spent. LAKESIDE GLOBAL INSTITUTE
  5. $1.5 million spent. NEUROLOGIC PROGRAM
  6. $1.5 million spent. GIRLS ACADEMY
  7. $1.9 million spent. UPPER MERION VANTAGE ACADEMY - A COMPREHENSIVE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 12 FORMED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE UPPER MERION AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN KING OF PRUSSIA, PA AND LAKESIDE EDUCATIONAL NETWORK. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY IN THE REGULAR SCHOOL SETTING WITH THE ACADEMIC, COUNSELING AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO OVERCOME THEIR SCHOOL OBSTACLES AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS A STAGED TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN BACK TO THEIR HOME SCHOOL AFTER THEY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS WHILE AT VANTAGE.
  8. $1.7 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 1962.

    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 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.