North Ward Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE NORTH WARD CENTER, INC. - BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY BY EDUCATING, ADVOCATING, AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES
- Income
- $20.9 million
- Spending
- $18.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 36.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 226
- Volunteers
- 184
- Highest pay
- $312,117, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 95% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (4)
- $11.8 million spent. THE NORTH WARD CENTER OPERATES ONE OF THE LARGEST PRESCHOOLS IN NEWARK, NJ. ESTABLISHED IN 1975, THE NORTH WARD CENTER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER HAS SERVED MORE THAN 4,000 PRESCHOOLERS. WE HAVE MORE THAN 40 PRESCHOOL CLASSES THAT PROVIDE NEARLY 700 THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS WITH FUNDAMENTAL LEARNING SKILLS. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ABBOTT PRESCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
- $2.3 million spent. CASA ISRAEL, AN ADULT MEDICAL DAY CARE CENTER, IS LICENSED TO SERVE UP TO 120 CLIENTS DAILY. THE FACILITY PROVIDES THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE, INCLUDING PRIMARY AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS THERAPEUTIC AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES TO MEDICAID CLIENTS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE ADULTS.
- $1.5 million spent. HOPE HOUSE IS AN ADULT RESIDENTUAL SERVICE, SERVING 4 PARTICIPANTS WITH PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM IN NEWARK. THIS HOME WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE CONNECTIONS TO FAMILY AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO SUPPORT, BRINGING US CLOSER TO A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.
- $1.3 million spent. RECOGNIZING THE VALUE THAT ORGANIZED RECREATION OFFERS INNER CITY YOUTH, THE NORTH WARD CENTER OFFERS A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HANDS ON ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT, TEAMWORK SKILLS AND SPORTSMANSHIP FOR NEARLY 3,000 CHILDREN. THE CENTER'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATION PROGRAM IS THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. STRUCTURED AROUND THE PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING THE BASIC SKILLS OF BASKETBALL, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL, BOYS AND GIRLS ACQUIRE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF COOPERATING WITH THEIR PEERS AND COACHES AND PRACTICE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HABITS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.