Infant Welfare Society of Evanston Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 52 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF EVANSTON, INC.'S MISSION IS TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND EDUCATION FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AND TO SUPPORT FAMILIES' EFFORTS TO BE EFFECTIVE PARENTS AND ADVOCATES IN THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $141,212, 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
Weak: 26 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 52 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 2510 of 10 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 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)
- $1.4 million spent. FULL-DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AT TWO LOCATIONS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD.BABY TODDLER NURSERY - FOUNDED IN 1971, BABY TODDLER NURSERY IS ILLINOIS' LONGEST-RUNNING INDEPENDENTLY LICENSED INFANT TODDLER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM, OFFERING SUBSIDIZED, FEE-BASED AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS TO CHILDREN FROM 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. BTN PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR UP TO 70 CHILDREN EACH DAY. OUR PRESCHOOL RECEIVES FUNDING THROUGH THE PRE-SCHOOL FOR ALL PROGRAM ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. FAMILIES MAY ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SUBSIDY THROUGH THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE IL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH ALLOWS TUITION PAYMENTS TO BE MADE ON A SLIDING SCALE. BTN ALSO RECEIVES EARLY HEAD START FUNDING.TEEN BABY NURSERY - TEEN BABY NURSERY PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR UP TO 16 INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND SERVICES TO THEIR YOUNG PARENTS, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. TBN SUPPORTS YOUNG PARENTS AS THEY STRIVE TO GRADUATE AND SET THEIR LIVES ON A COURSE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUCCESS. TBN ALSO INCLUDES EARLY HEAD START FUNDING.BOTH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WELCOME CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND MEDICAL CHALLENGES. AN EXCEPTIONAL TEACHER TO CHILD STAFFING RATIO (3 STAFF TO 8 CHILDREN PER CLASSROOM), THE RESEARCH-BASED CREATIVE CURRICULUM, AND INDIVIDUALIZED DEVELOPMENTAL PLANS ENABLE THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE TO GROW AND THRIVE.IWSE ALSO OFFERS AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM "THE FIRST 1,100 DAYS" PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS FOR EVERY CHILD IN ANY IWSE PROGRAM AND PROVISION OF NEEDED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ON SITE. IN THIS WAY, IWSE IS ABLE TO CATCH AND ADDRESS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, MOTOR AND LANGUAGE DELAYS BEFORE THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND.
- $1.1 million spent. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OLD AT TWO LOCATIONS, SUBSIDIZED BY FEDERAL AWARDS. FAMILIES THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FUNDING OTHER THAN EARLY HEAD START ARE ENROLLED FOR 6 HOURS DAILY.
- $369,948 spent. FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR YOUNG FAMILIES WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND AT-RISK.FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM - SINCE 2005 THE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS OFFERED INTENSIVE HOME VISITING SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHOSE CHILDREN ARE MOST AT-RISK FOR ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ACADEMIC FAILURE. THROUGH OUR LONG TIME COMMUNITY COMMITMENT, IWSE LEARNS OF OFTEN UNSEEN AND EXTREMELY VULNERABLE, ISOLATED, AND HARD-TO-REACH FAMILIES NOT SERVED THROUGH CENTER-BASED PROGRAMS. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE EXTREMELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER FAMILIES, AND THUS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LEARNING. IWSE'S FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM ADDRESSES THESE NEEDS BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES THAT INCLUDE WEEKLY HOME VISITS, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT FROM OUR TRAINED STAFF. PARENTS ALSO ATTEND MONTHLY SOCIALIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT PARENTING AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING WITH OTHER FAMILIES. IWSE USES THE RESEARCH-BASED BABY TALK CURRICULUM DURING OUR WORK WITH FAMILIES.
- ADMINISTRATIVE AND DEVELOPMENT
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1961.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.