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Dayspring Center Inc

EIN 35-1618998 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 35% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 85 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

Social services for low-income families.

Income
$908,999
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
35%
Reserves
5.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
47
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$122,733, executive director

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

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 54% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    35% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 85 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (housing, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 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 (1)
  1. $441,051 spent. Emergency Shelter - Located 1537 N. Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, Dayspring provides emergency and overnight shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to approximately 150 families annually. These families are typically at a crisis stage, and require the compassionate care, support and direction of our professional case management team. Residents are provided with food, clothing and shelter. Each month, approximately 2,500 meals are served. The average length of stay for each family is 45-60 days. Residents develop a goal plan to address their homelessness. These plans encompass areas such as: parenting skills and family counseling, money management training, transportation support, child care resources, affordable medical care access, literacy and educational support, employment skills training and job assistance. When families are stabilized enough to leave our facility, we provide them with follow-up case management. Families are also provided with programs and activities that help them grow, blossom and just have fun, such as our tutoring program and homework club for school-age children, art and recreational programming, birthday parties, picnics and summer camp.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 May 1991.

    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.