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Family Development Services Inc

EIN 35-1990571 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, A HEAD START ORGANIZATION, IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF LOW-INCOME CHILDREN BY PROVIDING QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND COMPREHENSIVE, FAMILY FOCUSED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

Income
$22.5 million
Spending
$22.6 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
312
Volunteers
1,166
Highest pay
$170,338, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 February 28, 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 (4)
  1. $13.6 million spent. HEAD START PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE OF THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM IS TO SERVE LOW-INCOME PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE SERVING OVER 960 CHILDREN ANNUALLY AT 10 SITES IN MARION AND HAMILTON COUNTIES, INCLUDING 10% SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, LICENSED BY THE STATE OF INDIANA, PART-DAY AND FULL DAY SERVICES OFFERED AUGUST - JUNE, ANNUALLY, LIMITED FULL DAY, FULL YEAR SERVICES, TWO MEALS AND TWO SNACKS PROVIDED DAILY, IMPROVED CHILD OUTCOMES AS DICTATED BY FEDERAL MANDATES, PROVISION OF THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SERVICE DELIVERY AREAS - EARLY CHILD EDUCATION - FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - OUTCOMES AND TRANSITION - SPECIAL NEEDS - MENTAL HEALTH - HEALTH AND NUTRITION - SOCIAL SERVICES - BI-LINGUAL SERVICES.
  2. $3.5 million spent. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE OF THIS FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM IS TO SERVE LOW-INCOME INFANTS, TODDLERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING A QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE SERVING OVER 100 INFANTS AND TODDLERS ANNUALLY AT 6 SITES IN MARION COUNTY AND HAMILTON COUNTY, INCLUDING 10% SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, LICENSED BY THE STATE OF INDIANA, FULL DAY, FULL YEAR SERVICES, TWO MEALS AND TWO SNACKS PROVIDED DAILY, PROVISION OF THE FOLLOWING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SERVICE DELIEVERY AREAS - DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATION PROGRAM - FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - OUTCOMES AND TRANSITION TO HEAD START - SPECIAL NEEDS - MENTAL HEALTH - HEALTH AND NUTRITION - SOCIAL SERVICES - BI-LINGUAL SERVICES.
  3. $1.5 million spent. THE USDA PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO QUALIFIED AGENCIES TO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROVIDED 246,105 MEALS AND 112,586 SNACKS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. EXPENSES ARE FOR OTHER ITEMS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending February 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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