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Gateway Woods Family Services Inc

EIN 27-2260443 · Leo, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO HONOR AND OBEY GOD BY PROVIDING HOPE AND HEALING TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, WHO MAY THEN BLESS OTHERS. THE RESIDENTIAL, FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION AND OTHER PROGRAMS SERVED NEARLY 500 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE YEAR.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 76%
Employees
86
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$139,788, executive di

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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (5)
  1. $2.3 million spent. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR DELIQUENT TEENS IN A CARING, CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT ON A BEAUTIFUL 50 ACRE CAMPUS WITH FIVE FAMILY GROUP HOMES WITH A CAPACITY FOR 32 RESDIDENTS WHO ARE PLACED BY PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE FAMILIES. HOUSEPARENTS FAMILIES PROVIDE A MODEL OF SPIRITUALITY, FAMILY INTERACTION, DILIGENCE, STRUCTURE & NURTURING. RESIDENTS RECEIVE THERAPEUTIC INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING FROM ON-STAFF COUNSELORS AND PARENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TREATMENT PROCESS WHEN A PLAN OF RECONCILIATION IS IN PLACE. ONE GROUP HOME IS UNIQUELY STAFFED AND PROGRAMED FOR TROUBLED PREGNANT TEENS AND TEEN MOMS. THIS INCLUDES CHRISTIAN PARENTING, ROLE MODELING & INSTRUCTION, DAY CARE, COUNSELING, AND HEALTH & INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS EDUCATION.
  2. $889,165 spent. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES OFFERS SPECIALIZED AND THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE. FOSTER CHILDREN RECEIVE MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY SERVICES AND VISITS FROM GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES'S QUALIFIED CASE MANAGERS. FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED AND THERAPEUTIC TRAINING. OUR FOSTER PARENTS ARE PART OF THE GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES TEAM AND ARE DEDICATED TO QUALITY CARE, CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE, AND OPEN, LOVING COMMUNICATION. OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF MAKE CAREFUL MATCHES OF CHILDREN WITH FOSTER HOMES FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS. IN ADDITION, GATEWAY WOODS HAD PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARE IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR AND CONTINUED THE PROGRAM INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUT IT WILL NOT CARRY OVER TO FUTURE YEARS. OVER 50 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY THE FOSTER CARE AND PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES OFFERS SPECIALIZED AND THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE. FOSTER CHILDREN RECEIVE MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY SERVICES AND VISITS FROM GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES'S QUALIFIED CASE MANAGERS. FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE SPECIALIZED AND THERAPEUTIC TRAINING. OUR FOSTER PARENTS ARE PART OF THE GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES TEAM AND ARE DEDICATED TO QUALITY CARE, CONSISTENT DISCIPLINE, AND OPEN, LOVING COMMUNICATION. OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF MAKE CAREFUL MATCHES OF CHILDREN WITH FOSTER HOMES FOR MORE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS. IN ADDITION, GATEWAY WOODS HAD PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARE IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR AND CONTINUED THE PROGRAM INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUT IT WILL NOT CARRY OVER TO FUTURE YEARS. OVER 50 CHILDREN WERE SERVED BY THE FOSTER CARE AND PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS.
  3. $711,831 spent. ACCREDITED BY ACSI, THE SCHOOL FOR GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE FOR MORE THAN 30 STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE STRUGGLE IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING. OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS BASED ON CLOSE, PERSONAL TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS IN A HIGHLY STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT. OUR DAY STUDENT PROGRAM ALSO SERVES OTHER STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PROBATION DEPARTMENTS.
  4. $1.3 million spent. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES FACILITATES ADOPTIONS FOR INDIANA AND ILLINOIS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE AND FAMILY-FOCUSED SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL, INFANT-TEENS, AND SPECIAL & MEDICAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS WITH A FOCUS ON FINDING CHRISTIAN FAMILIES. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES, INC. COORDINATES WITH 25 INTERNATIONAL AND 10 DOMESTIC AGENCIES. THE CARING, SKILLED AND DILIGENT STAFF AT GATEWAY WOOD FAMILY SERVICES STRIVES TO MAKE THIS COMPLEX PROCESS A SUCCESSFUL, AFFORDABLE AND JOYOUS EXPERIENCE. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THE ADOPTION PROGRAM SERVED OVER 110 INDIVIDUALS. ADOPTION INDIANA AMOUNT: 230,185 ADOPTION ILLINOIS AMOUNT: 138,281 WILLOWBRIDGE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH TRANSITION FROM GATEWAY WOODS TO FULL INDEPENDENCE. 50% OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE WILL BE UNEMPLOYED AT TEH AGE OF 24. LESS THAN 3% OF FOSTER YOUTH GRADITATE FROM A 4 YEAR COLLEGE. WILLOWBRIDGE WILL GIVE YOUTH, ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR PLACEMENT AND LEAVE GATEWAY CAMPUS, A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE, LEARN AND GROW TO INDEPENDENCE. AMOUNT: 388,276 LARC (LINKING TO ATTAIN RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY) SEEKS TO CONTINUE THE MISSION OF GATEWAY WOODS BY DEVELOPING ORGANIC NETWORKS THAT ALLOW CONCERNED AND WILLING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PAST CLIENTS LIVES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. THE LARC PROGRAM DOES NOT DIRECTLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND/OR FAMILIES, BUT RATHER FACILITATES THE CONNECTION OF THOSE WITH NEEDS TO CHRISTIAN MENTORS, EMPLOYERS, AND RESOURCES WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP. NEARLY 180 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. AMOUNT: 292,272 GATEWAY FARMS EMPLOYS TEENS LIVING ONCAMPUS, GIVING JOB OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOUTH LEARN JOB SKILLS, WORK SKILLS, AND BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE. HERE YOUTH LEARN THE VALUE OF PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCY AS THEY SEE THEIR HARD WORK TURN INTO DISIRED INCOME. AMOUNT: 210,198
  5. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES FACILITATES ADOPTIONS FOR INDIANA AND ILLINOIS FAMILIES BY PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE AND FAMILY-FOCUSED SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC, INTERNATIONAL, INFANT-TEENS, AND SPECIAL & MEDICAL NEEDS ADOPTIONS WITH A FOCUS ON FINDING CHRISTIAN FAMILIES. GATEWAY WOODS FAMILY SERVICES, INC. COORDINATES WITH 25 INTERNATIONAL AND 10 DOMESTIC AGENCIES. THE CARING, SKILLED AND DILIGENT STAFF AT GATEWAY WOOD FAMILY SERVICES STRIVES TO MAKE THIS COMPLEX PROCESS A SUCCESSFUL, AFFORDABLE AND JOYOUS EXPERIENCE. IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THE ADOPTION PROGRAM SERVED OVER 110 INDIVIDUALS. ADOPTION INDIANA AMOUNT: 230,185 ADOPTION ILLINOIS AMOUNT: 138,281 WILLOWBRIDGE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUTH TRANSITION FROM GATEWAY WOODS TO FULL INDEPENDENCE. 50% OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE WILL BE UNEMPLOYED AT TEH AGE OF 24. LESS THAN 3% OF FOSTER YOUTH GRADITATE FROM A 4 YEAR COLLEGE. WILLOWBRIDGE WILL GIVE YOUTH, ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR PLACEMENT AND LEAVE GATEWAY CAMPUS, A SAFE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE, LEARN AND GROW TO INDEPENDENCE. AMOUNT: 388,276 LARC (LINKING TO ATTAIN RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY) SEEKS TO CONTINUE THE MISSION OF GATEWAY WOODS BY DEVELOPING ORGANIC NETWORKS THAT ALLOW CONCERNED AND WILLING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PAST CLIENTS LIVES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. THE LARC PROGRAM DOES NOT DIRECTLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND/OR FAMILIES, BUT RATHER FACILITATES THE CONNECTION OF THOSE WITH NEEDS TO CHRISTIAN MENTORS, EMPLOYERS, AND RESOURCES WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP. NEARLY 180 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. AMOUNT: 292,272 GATEWAY FARMS EMPLOYS TEENS LIVING ONCAMPUS, GIVING JOB OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOUTH LEARN JOB SKILLS, WORK SKILLS, AND BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE. HERE YOUTH LEARN THE VALUE OF PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCY AS THEY SEE THEIR HARD WORK TURN INTO DISIRED INCOME. AMOUNT: 210,198

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 April 2011.

    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.