Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

St Marys Child Center Inc

EIN 35-1141484 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The children we serve are inherently competent, capable, and strong, St. Mary's Child Center: * Impacts pre-school children in poverty -- who are at life and learning risk -- with the highest quality cognitive, creative, social, physical, and emotional learning experiences that will transition into a foundation for lifelong success. * Integrates highly effective professional educators with a proven learning philosophy. * Uses qualitative measures to show impact. * Is accountable to the children and families served, stakeholders and contributors, and the early childhood learning community.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
13.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
68
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$154,026, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 13.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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 (3)
  1. $66,154 spent. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: St. Mary's Child Center provides a family engagement program for the families of our preschool students. All families in the program are welcome to participate. We offer family activities throughout the year. Families meet with Educators and Staff to interact in the centers and learn more about what is happening in the classrooms. A large snack or meal is provided during this time. We work with families year-round to assist in finding resources and necessary services. The program aspect works to assist the family.
  2. $3.1 million spent. PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM: St. Mary's Early Childhood Center served 183 children daily and maintained a low adult-to-child ratio of 1:7 to support social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. A high-quality curriculum promoted school readiness and mitigated developmental risk. The program used the I-SPROUT Early Learning Assessment System, a whole-child, play-based tool, to measure individual progress. In May 2025, staff analyzed assessment data for 84 five-year-olds transitioning to kindergarten. Children were assessed three times during the year through documented classroom interactions. Results showed more than one full level of growth in key areas, including self-control, following directions, literacy comprehension, object counting, and understanding two-dimensional shapes. Children living in poverty typically entered kindergarten at a 3-4 year developmental level.
  3. $100,212 spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The Professional Development Program provides professional development opportunities for community educators. The focus areas include the Educational Philosophy from Reggio Emilia, Italy, Project Work, and Applied Educational Neuroscience research and practices for behavioral health for children and the adults who serve them. Research indicates life changing, positive outcomes for children who are involved in high quality early learning programs. The intention of the Professional Development Program is to share practices that can improve program quality for other programs and therefore, improve outcomes for young children served in all schools. The staff provides seminars, tours, and classroom internships. We present at conferences and provide work force development to individual programs as designed by the specific program's needs. From July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, we worked with 683 educators. They represented programs from around the state.

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 November 6, 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 September 2014.

    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 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.