Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Pioneer Center for Human Services

EIN 36-2480845 · Mchenry, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Pioneer Center for Human Services provides developmental disability, behavioral health, and homeless services to help people live a dignified life of well-being, independence, and inclusion through educational, vocational, and community participation.

Income
$15.0 million
Spending
$14.2 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
382
Volunteers
83
Highest pay
$137,225, 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: 71 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 23% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

    9 of 9 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. $4.7 million spent. Residential Services- The Center provides residential services through supported and supervised group home seettings, including eight group homes for persons with developmental disabilities, as well as other supported living arrangements. Supportive services include case management, linkage to outside services and entitlement programs, skills training, and medical supervision. The Center also provides autism services through a 24-Hour therapeutic group home for adults ages 23 and over,as well as various day services all of which place a high value on providing clients with opportunities for recreations and social integration.
  2. $2.8 million spent. Day Services- The Center provides day services to adults with developmental disabilities through developmental training, senior care, and autism services. The Centers developmental training services assist individuals to acquire daily living skills to help them live as independently as possible, whereas, the Centers senior care services are designed to provide socialization opportunities and community integration for those individuals 50 and over as an alternative to the centers vocational services prgrams. The Center also provides various day services for those with autism, all of which place a high value on providing opportunities for recreation and social integration.
  3. $1.2 million spent. Homeless Services- The Center provides homeless services, including case management, through the McHenry County PADS program.
  4. Program Service Expenses 2,643,499, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 2,103,456 Community Family Therapy The Center provides community family therapy services to children and their families through delinquency prevention, therapeutic mentoring, teenage mothers initiative TAMI, runaway homeless youth RHY, and intensive home therapy. Community Living Services The Center provides behavioral health community living services through five group homes for persons with mental illnesses. Community Services The Center provides community services to support individuals with mental illnesses or developmental disabilities. Employment and Vocational Services The Center provides employment and vocational services to adults with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities through employee development services, vocational rehabilitation centers, and community employment services.

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 November 1966.

    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.