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Hope School

EIN 37-0768616 · Springfield, 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

THE HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY SERVES CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING HOMES IN WHICH TO GROW, SCHOOLS IN WHICH TO LEARN, CLINICS IN WHICH TO BECOME HEALTHIER, RESEARCH INTO EMERGING PRACTICES, AND TRAINING FOR PROVIDERS AND PARENTS.

Income
$34.2 million
Spending
$31.9 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
3.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
550
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$447,963, ceo & president

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 79% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost -0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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. $15.1 million spent. HOPE RESIDENTIAL ACADEMY: PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL CARE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. SERVICES ARE DELIVERED ACROSS A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT INCLUDES A CHILD CARE INSTITUTION (CCI) SETTING FOR YOUTH REQUIRING MORE INTENSIVE STRUCTURE AND SUPERVISION, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY-BASED, FAMILY-STYLE GROUP HOMES LOCATED THROUGHOUT SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. HOPE CURRENTLY OPERATES 13 HOMES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SAFE, STABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AS YOUTH DEVELOP SKILLS AND MEET INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS, THEY MAY TRANSITION FROM THE CCI SETTING TO GROUP HOMES AND OTHER LESS RESTRICTIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS THAT SUPPORT INCREASED INDEPENDENCE AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.
  2. $10.0 million spent. HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY: SPRINGFIELD/EDWARDSVILLE PROVIDES SPECIALIZED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. ESTABLISHED IN 1957, THE ACADEMY OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS, AND TRANSITION SERVICES DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND LIFE SKILLS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE THERAPEUTIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY-INTEGRATED CLASSROOMS, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING THROUGH THE HOPE VOCATIONAL ACADEMY, WHICH PREPARES STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND GREATER INDEPENDENCE THROUGH JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND COMMUNITY WORK OPPORTUNITIES.THE HOPE THERAPEUTIC DAY ACADEMY (HTDA), ESTABLISHED IN 2004 AND LOCATED WITHIN HOPE LEARNING ACADEMY IN SPRINGFIELD, PROVIDES A THERAPEUTIC, EVIDENCE-BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 WHO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. LICENSED THERAPISTS AND EDUCATORS WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH FAMILIES AND REFERRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO HELP TRANSITION STUDENTS BACK TO THEIR HOME SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS WHEN APPROPRIATE.
  3. $4.4 million spent. THE AUTISM PROGRAM OF ILLINOIS (TAP): IS A STATEWIDE SERVICE NETWORK ADMINISTERED BY HOPE AND FUNDED THROUGH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. THE NETWORK INCLUDES 15 PARTNER AGENCIES AND UNIVERSITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS AND IS DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND THEIR FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE. TAP PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES INCLUDING DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS, APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) THERAPY, SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO AUTISM-RELATED SUPPORTS ACROSS ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES.
  4. $851,236 spent. HOPE BEHAVIORAL CONSULTING (HBC) PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CONSULTATION TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. SERVICES INCLUDE BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PLANS, APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) THERAPY, AND TRAINING FOR CAREGIVERS, EDUCATORS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. HBC WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES, STRENGTHEN DAILY LIVING SKILLS, AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN HOME, SCHOOL, AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS.COMMUNITY DAY SERVICES (CDS) PROVIDES DAYTIME PROGRAMMING FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, SKILL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. SERVICES INCLUDE LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, VOCATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY INTEGRATION ACTIVITIES, AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORTS BASED ON PARTICIPANT GOALS. THROUGH STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCES, CDS HELPS INDIVIDUALS BUILD SOCIAL, EMPLOYMENT, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS THAT SUPPORT GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.

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 June 1959.

    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.