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Helping Hand Center

EIN 36-2327271 · Countryside, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TRANSFORMING LIVES OF ALL CONNECTED TO HELPING HAND THROUGH GENUINE CARE AND EDUCATION SO PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE EQUALLY VALUED IN ALL COMMUNITIES.

Income
$26.3 million
Spending
$23.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
14.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 77%
Employees
287
Volunteers
415
Highest pay
$340,836, chief executive 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (5)
  1. $8.1 million spent. HELPING HAND'S COMMUNITY LIVING PROGRAMS ENHANCES THE LIVES OF OVER 80 INDIVIDUALS AT 13 DIFFERENT SUBURBAN HOMES TO PROVIDE 24-HOUR GENUINE CARE AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. EACH HOME ENCOURAGES AUTONOMY AND CREATES PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE PERSONS INTERESTS AND CHOICE. HELPING HAND OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TO EVERYONE IN NEED AT THE HOME ALONG WITH MEDICAL OVERSITE AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
  2. $6.1 million spent. HELPING HAND'S SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HELPING HAND'S EXTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES BOTH FOCUS ON PREPARING AND ENSURING KEY/CORE SKILLS ARE ENHANCED. THE SCHOOL EDUCATES OVER 82 STUDENTS WITH A DYNAMIC TEAM THAT COLLABORATES WITH THE STUDENT'S SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FAMILY. THIS TEAM INCLUDES CLOSE TO ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT FOR EACH STUDENT, ALONG WITH HIGHLY QUALIFIED SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, BEHAVIORAL THERAPIST, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS PROVIDE GENUINE EDUCATION FOCUSED ON RETURNING TO THEIR HOME DISTRICT OR ADULT PROGRAMMING.
  3. $4.1 million spent. HELPING HAND'S ADULT LEARNING PROGRAMING PROVIDES GENUINE CARE AND EDUCATION TO OVER 400 ADULTS. THERE ARE MANY FOCUS AREAS FOR LEARNING THAT ARE CHOSEN BY THE PERSON IN THE PROGRAM SO THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. EACH PERSON HELPING HAND SERVES IS UNIQUE AND HAS THEIR OWN INTERESTS. HELPING HAND PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF CHOICES FROM JOB TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO RETIREMENT AND AGING PROGRAMS. HELPING HAND ENCOURAGES EACH PERSON TO EXPLORE NEW SKILLS IN THE ARTS (CULINARY, PAINTING, DANCE, MUSIC, ETC.), STEM, COMPUTER SCIENCE, ATHLETICS, AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY TO NAME A FEW. EACH AREA INCORPORATES INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY INTO THE CURRICULUM. EVERYONE HELPING HAND SERVES HAS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT.
  4. $1.1 million spent. PEDIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC - THE OUTPATIENT CLINIC SERVES OVER 200 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH HIGHLY SKILLED THERAPISTS QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, FEEDING, AND BEHAVIOR THERAPY SERVICES. HELPING HAND IS ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS THAT ACCEPT CLIENTS WITH PUBLIC AID FUNDING IN ADDITION TO INSURANCE PAYMENTS.
  5. $483,490 spent. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOCUSES ON VOCATIONAL SKILLS TO READY CLIENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE. ADULTS IN THE ADULT LEARNING PROGRAM EXPRESSING INTEREST IN EMPLOYMENT WORKING WITH VOCATIONAL SPECIALISTS TO IDENTIFY SKILLS NEEDS AND JOBS TO MATCH THE INDIVIDUAL'S INTERESTS. HELPING HAND FOCUSES ON COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT WHICH WILL SHOWCASE THE VALUE EACH INDIVIDUAL BRINGS TO THE COMMUNITY.

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 October 13, 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 July 1964.

    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 October 21, 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.