Happy Hollow Childrens Camp Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND OUTDOOR RESIDENTIAL CAMPING PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AGES 7-14 YEARS OLD. HAPPY HOLLOW PROVIDES HIGHLY REDUCED RATES TO CAMPERS WHO COME FROM FAMILIES IN INDIANAPOLIS AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. CAMP ALSO SERVES CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND YOUTH GROUPS THROUGHOUT INDIANA. HAPPY HOLLOW PROVIDES A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND SUPERVISED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 4.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 106
- Highest pay
- $126,724, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 115% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2523 of 23 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 December 31, 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 (2)
- $712,341 spent. SIGNATURE SUMMER CAMP - AN ACCREDITED OVERNIGHT CAMP PROGRAM THROUGH THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION, HAPPY HOLLOW CHILDREN'S CAMP MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING WHILE LESSENING BARRIERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO ACCESSING AND AFFORDING THE RESIDENTIAL CAMP EXPERIENCE. THE SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM OPERATES FOR FIVE WEEKS FROM JUNE TO JULY AND TARGETS ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AGES 7 - 14 FROM THE GREATER INDIANAPOLIS AREA - MARION, BOONE, HAMILTON, HANCOCK, HENDRICKS, AND MORGAN COUNTIES. CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY FOR THE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM RECEIVE A REDUCED RATE. HOUSEHOLDS WITH HIGHER INCOMES PAY A RATE BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE FEE. CHILDREN RECEIVE THREE HOME COOKED MEALS PER DAY, 24-HOUR SUPERVISION, 8:2 CHILD/COUNSELOR RATIO, AND ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO AND FROM CAMP.
- $582,825 spent. YOUTH USER GROUPS - HAPPY HOLLOW OFFERS OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FALL, WINTER & SPRING. THE CAMP EXPERIENCES ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH YOUTH GROUP COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS NATURE EDUCATION, ANIMAL OBSERVATIONS, FOREST ECOSYSTEMS, AQUATIC STUDIES, HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY, CAPITAL RESOURCES, CONSERVATION, BIRD STUDIES, ENGINEERING, ORIENTEERING, ASTRONOMY AND TEAM BUILDING. THE PROGRAMS RANGE FROM DAY LONG EXPERIENCES TO THREE-NIGHT, FOUR-DAY PROGRAMS. SCHOOLS & YOUTH GROUPS PROVIDE CHAPERONES, A COORDINATOR, A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND TRANSPORTATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 December 1969.
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 November 4, 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.