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Hardy Center Inc

EIN 38-3917592 · Columbus, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE PREPARE YOUNG MINDS FOR PROSPEROUS AND IMPACTFUL FUTURES THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF LITERACY, LIFE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP, WHILE EMBRACING TRADITIONAL VALUES AND INCORPORATING INNOVATIVE METHODS OF TEACHING TO FOSTER HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$708,072
Spending
$276,994
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
1
Volunteers
250
Highest pay
$16,500, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 61% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 134% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $215,397 spent. THE HARDY CENTER HAS EXPERIENCED MEANINGFUL GROWTH ACROSS ALL AREAS OF OUR PROGRAM-SUPPORTING MORE STUDENTS, ENGAGING MORE FAMILIES, AND EXPANDING OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED TUTORS. OUR MISSION TO BRIDGE LEARNING GAPS HAS POSITIVELY TRANSFORMED THE ACADEMIC TRAJECTORIES OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. NOTABLY, 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOW PERFORMING AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE AVERAGED 89% IN READING ON THEIR REPORT CARDS, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. ON THE READING A-Z PLATFORM, 100% OF STUDENTS MADE MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARD THE NEXT READING LEVEL, WITH MORE THAN 30% ADVANCING BY AT LEAST ONE LEVEL IN JUST TWO MONTHS OF FOCUSED INSTRUCTION. THIS SUCCESS IS DRIVEN BY OUR HIGH-DOSE TUTORING MODEL, DELIVERING NEARLY 300 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF ACADEMIC PRACTICE EACH YEAR. LED BY RETIRED EDUCATORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, THIS APPROACH ACCELERATES LEARNING, CLOSES ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, AND STRENGTHENS LITERACY. CURRICULUM PACING GUIDES ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, IMPROVING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND HOMEWORK COMPLETION RATES, WHICH ARE NOW NEARING 100%. TEACHERS ALSO REPORT INCREASED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION FROM HARDY CENTER STUDENTS. OUR IMPACT EXTENDS BEYOND ACADEMICS. MANY STUDENTS FACE PERSONAL CHALLENGES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, BUT AT THE HARDY CENTER, THEY FIND A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE VALUED AND SUPPORTED. EACH DAY INCLUDES A WARM MEAL, INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING, AND A CARING COMMUNITY. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM BROADENS STUDENT EXPERIENCES WITH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE ACCESS-SUCH AS SWIMMING, KARATE, FENCING, UNICYCLING, ART, CHESS, LEGO LEARNING, AND INDUSTRIAL ARTS. EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS TO PLACES LIKE COSI AND THE OHIO STATEHOUSE DEEPEN THEIR LEARNING. WE ALSO TEACH PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS-SHOE-TYING, PENMANSHIP, TIME-TELLING, AND ETIQUETTE-FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE AND CONFIDENCE. AS WE REFLECT ON OUR PROGRESS, WE SEE THE UNDENIABLE IMPACT OF OUR MISSION IN ACTION. OUR STUDENTS ARE PROVING EVERY DAY THAT POTENTIAL IS NOT LIMITED BY ZIP CODE. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO HELPING THEM GROW IN KNOWLEDGE, CHARACTER, AND CONFIDENCE, WHILE EXPANDING OUR STAFF, PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO SUSTAIN AND SCALE THIS IMPACT. THE HARDY CENTER HAS EXPERIENCED MEANINGFUL GROWTH ACROSS ALL AREAS OF OUR PROGRAM-SUPPORTING MORE STUDENTS, ENGAGING MORE FAMILIES, AND EXPANDING OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED TUTORS. OUR MISSION TO BRIDGE LEARNING GAPS HAS POSITIVELY TRANSFORMED THE ACADEMIC TRAJECTORIES OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. NOTABLY, 90% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE NOW PERFORMING AT OR ABOVE GRADE LEVEL. STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE AVERAGED 89% IN READING ON THEIR REPORT CARDS, EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. ON THE READING A-Z PLATFORM, 100% OF STUDENTS MADE MEASURABLE PROGRESS TOWARD THE NEXT READING LEVEL, WITH MORE THAN 30% ADVANCING BY AT LEAST ONE LEVEL IN JUST TWO MONTHS OF FOCUSED INSTRUCTION. THIS SUCCESS IS DRIVEN BY OUR HIGH-DOSE TUTORING MODEL, DELIVERING NEARLY 300 ADDITIONAL HOURS OF ACADEMIC PRACTICE EACH YEAR. LED BY RETIRED EDUCATORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, THIS APPROACH ACCELERATES LEARNING, CLOSES ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, AND STRENGTHENS LITERACY. CURRICULUM PACING GUIDES ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, IMPROVING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND HOMEWORK COMPLETION RATES, WHICH ARE NOW NEARING 100%. TEACHERS ALSO REPORT INCREASED CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION FROM HARDY CENTER STUDENTS. OUR IMPACT EXTENDS BEYOND ACADEMICS. MANY STUDENTS FACE PERSONAL CHALLENGES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, BUT AT THE HARDY CENTER, THEY FIND A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE VALUED AND SUPPORTED. EACH DAY INCLUDES A WARM MEAL, INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING, AND A CARING COMMUNITY. OUR SUMMER PROGRAM BROADENS STUDENT EXPERIENCES WITH ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE ACCESS-SUCH AS SWIMMING, KARATE, FENCING, UNICYCLING, ART, CHESS, LEGO LEARNING, AND INDUSTRIAL ARTS. EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS TO PLACES LIKE COSI AND THE OHIO STATEHOUSE DEEPEN THEIR LEARNING. WE ALSO TEACH PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS-SHOE-TYING, PENMANSHIP, TIME-TELLING, AND ETIQUETTE-FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE AND CONFIDENCE. AS WE REFLECT ON OUR PROGRESS, WE SEE THE UNDENIABLE IMPACT OF OUR MISSION IN ACTION. OUR STUDENTS ARE PROVING EVERY DAY THAT POTENTIAL IS NOT LIMITED BY ZIP CODE. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO HELPING THEM GROW IN KNOWLEDGE, CHARACTER, AND CONFIDENCE, WHILE EXPANDING OUR STAFF, PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO SUSTAIN AND SCALE THIS IMPACT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on December 15, 2013.

    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 December 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 October 2014.

    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.