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Chileda Institute Inc

EIN 39-1244797 · La Crosse, WI

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

TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUTH WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.

Income
$22.2 million
Spending
$21.1 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 93%
Employees
665
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$239,745, ceo

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

Good: 71 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% 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 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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 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 (4)
  1. $11.0 million spent. RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES WHO CANNOT BE SERVED WITHIN OTHER SERVICE MODELS. CHILEDA IS LICENSED BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AS A RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER (RCC). CHILEDA IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE CARE FOR UP TO 56 RESIDENTS AGES 6-21, BUT ONLY HAS CAPACITY FOR 48 RESIDENTS AND ACCEPTS ENROLLMENTS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE STAFF AT CHILEDA ARE HIGHLY TRAINED IN THE USE OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE AND INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS USING MULTIPLE MODALITIES TO BEST MEET THE NEED OF EACH RESIDENT. THE PROGRAMMATIC FOCUS IS ON DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE LIFE SKILLS, ADAPTIVE BEHAVIORS, AND DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE SOCIAL SKILLS TO FACILITATE LIVING AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
  2. $1.2 million spent. DAY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT CHILEDA WORKS WITH UP TO 20 STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. CHILEDA'S LICENSED SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS WORK WITH THE REFERRING SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CARRY OVER AND REFINE THE INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN.
  3. $3.6 million spent. IN-HOME SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS, PARENT/GUARDIAN TRAINING AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY. TRAINED PROFESSIONALS COLLABORATE WITH THE PARENT/GUARDIAN AND THE CHILD TO DEVELOP GOALS THAT WILL TEACH AND ENCOURAGE SKILL BUILDING IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE MORE INDEPENDENCE IN THE CHILDS LIFE. SPECIALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A BOARD-CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST (BCBA) WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE WHEN ASSESSING CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS IN THE HOME AND COMMUNITY. SERVICE OFFERS FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS (FBA) AND BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PLANS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY SETTING. ALONG WITH THE FBA AND BEHAVIOR SUPPORT PLAN, AN ASSESSMENT OF DAILY LIVING SKILLS CAN BE COMPLETED TO IDENTIFY SKILLS THE CHILD CAN WORK ON DEVELOPING. THE CHILDS TEAM, ALONG WITH THE BEHAVIOR PROFESSIONALS, WILL DISCUSS THE FBA, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
  4. $3.3 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS

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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    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 September 1976.

    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.

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