Marklund Childrens Home
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The mission of Marklund is to make Everyday Life Possible for individuals with profound disabilities. Over the years, Marklund has gained the trust of more than 1800 families for meeting the residential, therapeutic, vocational and educational needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum. It continues to be a premier provider of these services in the Chicagoland area.
- Income
- $42.1 million
- Spending
- $46.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 100%
- Employees
- 705
- Volunteers
- 2,863
- Highest pay
- $407,000, president/ceo
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: 44 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs.
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 2516 of 16 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 (2)
- $26.4 million spent. Marklund's residential program currently serves the most medically and developmentally frail children and adults. Residents include 96 at the Geneva campus, 61 at the Wasmond Center in Elgin and 21 at the Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale. The 178 residents enjoy appropriately designed programming, outings, pre-vocational and therapeutic activities tailored to their individual needs and provided by qualified professional.
- $15.8 million spent. Marklund offers both full and part-time day programming for community clients of all ages. Marklund is committed to providing individualized educational and pre-vocational programming for both Marklund residents and community students ages 3 and older. The Marklund Day School is a non-public, special education facility serves students on the Autism spectrum, PDD-NOS and those with profound developmental disabilities. Staffing ratios are designed with the need of the student in mind. The Marklund Community Day Service program provides pre-vocational services to adult clients and offers age appropriate therapies, outings and volunteer activities.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.