Merakey Childrens Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, OUTPATIENT, IN SCHOOL, COMMUNITY BASED AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
- Income
- $6.9 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 144
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $818,642, cfo/treasurer/secretary
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: 20 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 178% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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
Good: 75 out of 100.
Independent board
5 of 252 of 6 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $7.2 million spent. INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (IBHS) PROVIDES TARGETED INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 21 WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL, OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. THIS SHORT-TERM, COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM IS DELIVERED IN HOMES, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SETTINGS TO PROMOTE STABILITY, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING.MERAKEY IBHS PARTNERS WITH 13 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE PHILADELPHIA AREA AND CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE 19120 AND 19133 ZIP CODES. OUR COMMITMENT TO HIGH-QUALITY, OUTCOMES-DRIVEN CARE HAS CONSISTENTLY YIELDED STRONG PERFORMANCE UNDER VALUE-BASED PAYMENT MODELS. IN THE PRIOR YEAR, IBHS EARNED VALUE-BASED BONUS PAYMENTS IN ALL QUARTERS FOR EXCEEDING CLINICAL QUALITY BENCHMARKS AND ACHIEVED LOW RATES OF CONCURRENT USE OF ACUTE INPATIENT OR PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION SERVICES DEMONSTRATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS. SINCE THAT TIME, IBHS HAS CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINED CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, EARNING VALUE-BASED INCENTIVE PAYMENTS EVERY QUARTER FOR MEETING ESTABLISHED CLINICAL METRICS. NOTABLY, DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE PROGRAM MET ALL CLINICAL METRICS FOR THE FIRST TIME, MARKING A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AND ONGOING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS.
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 January 1959.
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.