Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Hephzibah Childrens Association

EIN 36-2167096 · Oak Park, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A CHILD WELFARE AGENCY PROVIDING GROUP HOME CARE, FOSTER CARE, AND DAYCARE SERVICES TO HELP CHILDREN THRIVE AND FAMILIES FLOURISH THROUGH INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS.

Income
$14.2 million
Spending
$13.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
273
Volunteers
525
Highest pay
$167,209, chief operating officer

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

Good: 79 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 32 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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 (4)
  1. $3.9 million spent. HEPHZIBAH HOME SERVES SOME OF THE YOUNGEST VICTIMS OF SEVERE ABUSE, NEGLECT AND TRAUMA AND CHILDREN IN NEED OF BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION, AGES 3-11 IN ILLINOIS. AT HEPHZIBAH HOME WE OFFER CHILDREN A SAFE HAVEN, AND A PLACE FOR THEM TO STABILIZE AND HEAL SO THAT THEY MAY EVENTUALLY RETURN TO A HOME ENVIRONMENT. HEPHZIBAH HOME OFFERS EACH CHILD AN INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PLAN BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. OUR CLINICAL TEAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO HELP CHILDREN HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND DEVELOP HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND LIFE SKILLS, AND OUR EDUCATION TEAM SUPPORTS THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. THE SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN COMES IN THE FORM OF THERAPIES SUCH AS ART AND PET THERAPY, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT THERAPY AND SENSORY MODULATION TREATMENT. OUR TEAM HELPS CHILDREN MEET THEIR GOALS AND DEVELOP THE VITAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO MOVE TO FOSTER OR PERMANENT PLACES. IN FY25, 31 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THE HEPHZIBAH HOME.
  2. $3.0 million spent. FOSTER CARE - CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE NEED LOVE AND SUPPORT IN ORDER TO HEAL. HEPHZIBAH OFFERS A FULL SPECTRUM OF FOSTER CARE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF LOVING HOMES. WE HELP CHILDREN HEAL AND PREPAPRE THEM FOR THE NEXT STEP IN THEIR FOSTER JOURNEY, WHETHER IT IS RETURNING TO BIOLOGICAL FAMILY MEMBERS, OR INTO AN ADOPTIVE HOME. HEPHZIBAH ALSO RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND SUPPORTS FOSTER PARENTS WHO OPEN THEIR HOMES TO CHILDREN IN NEED. WE SURROUND OUR FOSTER PARENTS WITH THE TRAINING AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY, LOVING AND CARING RELATIONSHIP AND HOME FOR ALL. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES PARENTING GROUPS, IN-HOME CONSULTATION, FOSTER PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, TRAINING SESSIONS, PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS, AND THE HEPHZIBAH FOSTER PARENT ADVISORY BOARD. IN FY25, 114 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM.
  3. $2.3 million spent. DAY CARE - HEPHZIBAH'S AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 800 CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS FULFILLING A CRITICAL NEED IN THE OAK PARK COMMUNITY FOR AFFORDABLE, NURTURING, AND ENRICHING AFTER-SCHOOL CARE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. WE OFFER A DYNAMIC CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 AFTER SCHOOL AND FULL-DAY CARE ON SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT EACH OF THE EIGHT DISTRICT 97 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN OAK PARK. WE ALSO OFFER FULL-DAY SUMMER DAY CAMP MONDAY-FRIDAY IN OAK PARK FOR CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS. THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE WE OFFER A SLIDING-FEE PAY SCALE, BASED ON INCOME LEVEL. OUR CHILDCARE ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL BY FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WIDE VARIETY OF SKILLS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE.
  4. $1.9 million spent. SIBLING CAMPHEPHZIBAH COORDINATES AN ANNUAL SIBLING CAMP FOR YOUTH IN OUR PROGRAM, AGES SIX YEARS AND OLDER, THAT ARE SEPARATED IN CARE FROM THEIR SIBLINGS. THIS IS A THREE-NIGHT, FOUR-DAY CAMP THAT TAKES PLACED AT CAMP WHITCOMB MASON IN HARTLAND, WISCONSIN. SIBLING CAMP IS IMPORTANT IN CREATING A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND CONTINUITY BETWEEN SIBLINGS, HELPING TO BUILD POSITIVE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES, AND ENCOURAGING CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. MOST IMPORTANTLY, SIBLING CAMP ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO JUST BE KIDS, UNENCUMBERED BY THEIR PAST AND HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES THAT ALL CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE. THROUGH SIBLING CONNECTIONS MADE AND STRENGTHENED AT THE CAMP AND AT OTHER TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE YOUTH MAINTAIN VALUABLE LINKS TO THEIR FAMILY, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT IN BRINGING HOPE AND HAPPINESS TO THE CHILDREN.INTACT FAMILY SERVICESTHE INTACT FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE "REASONABLE EFFORTS" TO STABILIZE, STRENGTHEN, ENHANCE, AND PRESERVE FAMILY LIFE BY PROVIDING SERVICES THAT ENABLE CHILDREN TO REMAIN SAFELY AT HOME. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTS FAMILIES TO MEET MINIMUM PARENTING STANDARDS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE FAMILIES' PROBLEMS AND THE PROVISION OF NECESSARY SERVICES. THE FAMILIES IN THIS PROGRAM ARE REFERRED FROM THE DIVISION OF CHILD PROTECTION (DCP) THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. HEPHZIBAH'S INTACT PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO THE COOK CENTRAL REGION OF THE DEPARTMENT. OUR CONTRACT CAPACITY IS 100 FAMILIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AND THE CASELOAD RATIO IS 10:1. POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM (TRIPLE P)HEPHZIBAH PROVIDES AN EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL OF INTERVENTION CALLED POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM (TRIPLE P). TRIPLE P IS A PARENTING INTERVENTION WITH THE MAIN GOALS OF INCREASING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND CONFIDENCE OF PARENTS AND REDUCING THE PREVALENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH, EMOTIONAL, AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN. THE AGE RANGE FOR CHILDREN BEING SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM IS FROM 6-12 YEARS. THE TRIPLE P CURRICULUM HAS THE PARENTS FOCUS ON ONE CHILD IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD THAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH THE MOST.

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 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 June 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 February 1945.

    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.

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.