Baby Fold
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BABY FOLD EMBODIES CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES TO HELP FAMILIES AND CHILDREN DEVELOP THE HOPE, COURAGE, AND LOVE THEY NEED TO BECOME WHOLE AND HEALTHY.
- Income
- $24.3 million
- Spending
- $22.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 62%
- Employees
- 315
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $230,406, president and 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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 2524 of 24 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)
- $8.1 million spent. THE BABY FOLD OFFERS SPECIALIZED EDUCATION THROUGH HAMMITT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HAMMITT JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. THESE SCHOOLS ARE NON-PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH BEHAVIORAL, EMOTIONAL, LEARNING AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AGES THREE THROUGH TWENTY-ONE. STUDENTS ARE REFERRED TO HAMMITT SCHOOL BY THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT BASED ON THEIR NEED FOR MORE INTENSIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.
- $4.0 million spent. THE BABY FOLD'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SAFE, NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN REFERRED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR CHILDREN FROM INFANCY THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS WHEN THEY MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR OWN HOMES TO PROTECT THEM FROM CONTINUED ABUSE OR NEGLECT. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP EACH CHILD ACHIEVE FULL POTENTIAL AND PERMANENCY BY PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, THEIR BIRTH PARENTS, AND THE FOSTER FAMILIES CARING FOR THE CHILDREN. THE AGENCY PROVIDES SERVICES IN THE AREA OF HOME OF RELATIVE, TRADITIONAL, SPECIALIZED AND PROFESSIONAL FOSTER CARE.
- $3.2 million spent. THE BABY FOLD'S "KEEPING THE PROMISE" ADOPTION PRESERVATION PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR ANY ADOPTIVE CHILD LIVING WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA TO HELP THEM STABILIZE IN THEIR HOME. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES FORMED THROUGH DCFS ADOPTION, SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP; PRIVATE DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN ADOPTION OR OUT OF STATE ADOPTION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BABY FOLD FOR YOUR ADOPTION - THESE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY ADOPTIVE FAMILY LIVING WITHIN THE 22 COUNTY SERVICE AREA.
- $3.4 million spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS.
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 1955.
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.