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Childserve Community Options Inc

EIN 42-1390033 · Johnston, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE PARTNER WITH FAMILIES TO HELP CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS LIVE A GREAT LIFE.

Income
$13.0 million
Spending
$11.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
-4.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 92%
Employees
610
Volunteers
124
Highest pay
$666,556, 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: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 262% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $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. $2.3 million spent. CHILDSERVE RESPITE GIVES FAMILIES A BREAK FROM DAILY DEMANDS OF CARING FOR A CHILD WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS. RESPITE IS PROVIDED IN THE CHILDREN'S HOMES AND IN THE COMMUNITY. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE RESPITE PROVIDED SERVICES FOR 465 CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND PROVIDED AN AVERAGE OF 8,231 HOURS OF RESPITE SERVICE EACH MONTH. (Expenses $ 3,306,672 including grants of $ 15,258)(Revenue $ 3,739,436) CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE SERVICE IS A GOAL-ORIENTED DAY SERVICE THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE PROVIDED 64,738 HOURS OF SERVICE TO 83 CHILDREN. EXPENSES $1,180,739. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $9,341. REVENUE $1,586,558 CHILDSERVE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIVING (SCL) ASSISTS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING SOCIALIZATION, COMMUNICATION, INDEPENDENCE, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE SCL PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO 201 CHILDREN, AVERAGING 2,331 HOURS OF SERVICE PER MONTH. EXPENSES $914,260. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,093 . REVENUE $1,376,070. CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT ASSESSES THE NEEDS OF POLK COUNTY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THEM IN OBTAINING SERVICES, FUNDING AND DEVELOPING AN INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLAN AND THEN MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVED 164 CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 22 YEARS. EXPENSES $1,211,673. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $1,824. REVENUE $776,808.
  2. $1.9 million spent. CHILDSERVE CHILDCARE PROVIDES A UNIQUE CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE FOR AMES AND DES MOINES AREA CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE CHILDCARE SERVED 205 CHILDREN.
  3. $1.5 million spent. CHILDSERVE AUTISM DAY PROGRAM INTEGRATES MEDICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CLINICIANS WITH PARAPROFESSIONALS THAT ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED TO PROVIDE PERSONAL CARE AND SUPPORT TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. CHILDSERVE AUTISM DAY PROGRAM PROVIDED 99,635 HOURS OF SERVICE TO 136 CHILDREN. (Expenses $ 3,306,672 including grants of $ 15,258)(Revenue $ 3,739,436) CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE SERVICE IS A GOAL-ORIENTED DAY SERVICE THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE PROVIDED 64,738 HOURS OF SERVICE TO 83 CHILDREN. EXPENSES $1,180,739. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $9,341. REVENUE $1,586,558 CHILDSERVE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIVING (SCL) ASSISTS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING SOCIALIZATION, COMMUNICATION, INDEPENDENCE, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE SCL PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO 201 CHILDREN, AVERAGING 2,331 HOURS OF SERVICE PER MONTH. EXPENSES $914,260. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,093 . REVENUE $1,376,070. CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT ASSESSES THE NEEDS OF POLK COUNTY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THEM IN OBTAINING SERVICES, FUNDING AND DEVELOPING AN INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLAN AND THEN MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVED 164 CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 22 YEARS. EXPENSES $1,211,673. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $1,824. REVENUE $776,808.
  4. $3.3 million spent. CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE SERVICE IS A GOAL-ORIENTED DAY SERVICE THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CHILDSERVE MEDICAL CHILDCARE PROVIDED 64,738 HOURS OF SERVICE TO 83 CHILDREN. EXPENSES $1,180,739. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $9,341. REVENUE $1,586,558 CHILDSERVE SUPPORTED COMMUNITY LIVING (SCL) ASSISTS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS IN DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING SOCIALIZATION, COMMUNICATION, INDEPENDENCE, AND DAILY LIVING SKILLS. IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE SCL PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO 201 CHILDREN, AVERAGING 2,331 HOURS OF SERVICE PER MONTH. EXPENSES $914,260. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $4,093 . REVENUE $1,376,070. CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT ASSESSES THE NEEDS OF POLK COUNTY CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THEM IN OBTAINING SERVICES, FUNDING AND DEVELOPING AN INDIVIDUALIZED CARE PLAN AND THEN MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN. DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, CHILDSERVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVED 164 CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 22 YEARS. EXPENSES $1,211,673. INCLUDING GRANTS OF $1,824. REVENUE $776,808.

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 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 November 6, 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 June 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 1994.

    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 November 4, 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.