Variety the Childrens Charity of St Louis
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VARIETY EMPOWERS OVER 1,650 CHILDREN WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (ALSO REFERRED TO AS CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS) THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT ABILITY RATHER THAN DISABILITY. OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH INCLUDES GIVING CHILDREN CRITICAL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND THERAPIES ALONG WITH INNOVATIVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE, SOCIALIZATION, AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. CHILDREN ALSO GAIN INDEPENDENCE, GROW IN INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY, DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES, AND CULTIVATE SKILLS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 74%
- Reserves
- 13 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 172
- Volunteers
- 213
- Highest pay
- $206,663, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100.
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1574% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 29 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 September 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 (6)
- $2.2 million spent. CORE PROGRAM: EQUIPMENT - MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ENCOMPASSES A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICALLY PRESCRIBED ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY WITH AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS. THESE VITAL PIECES OF EQUIPMENT INCREASE A CHILD'S MOBILITY (WHEELCHAIRS, STANDERS, WALKERS, ORTHOTICS) AS WELL AS IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES (HEARING AIDS AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES). THE HIGH COSTS AND INADEQUATE INSURANCE COVERAGE MAKE THESE TOOLS UNAFFORDABLE AND INACCESSIBLE FOR FAMILIES SO VARIETY PROVIDES THIS VITAL EQUIPMENT TO CHILDREN WHOSE NEEDS WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNMET. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, VARIETY SERVED 421 CHILDREN AND PROVIDED 572 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. THIS EQUIPMENT WAS UTILIZED BY CHILDREN FOR OVER 2.4 MILLION HOURS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. 98% OF VARIETY CHILDREN SURVEYED REPORTED THEY HAD GAINED SKILLS THEY NEED TO ENGAGE AND EXPERIENCE THEIR WORLD AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE.
- $744,036 spent. ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: RECREATION - VARIETY ADVENTURE CAMP FEATURES A SIX-WEEK LONG INNOVATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE CAMP PROGRAM IN THE SUMMER AND A WEEKLONG SESSION IN THE WINTER. ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN CAMPING ASSOCIATION (ACA), THE CAMPS ARE OPERATED FOR CHILDREN AGES 4- 20 WITH PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT WITH PEERS, CLASSMATES, AND FAMILY, TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITIES, AND TO DEMONSTRATE POSITIVE BELIEF IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES. CAMPERS RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE FROM SPECIALLY TRAINED COUNSELORS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AS THEY LEARN NEW SKILLS, SUCH AS ROCK CLIMBING, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, COOKING, MUSIC, ART, BICYCLING, ICE-SKATING, AND FISHING WHILE SOCIALIZING WITH THEIR PEERS AND MAKING LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. STEM CURRICULUM WAS EXPANDED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO INCLUDE ROBOTICS WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF ROBOTS TO ACCOMODATE VARYING ABILITIES AND BUILD CURIOUSITY, PROBLEM SOLVING AND CONFIDENCE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. A TOTAL OF 367 VARIETY CHILDREN ATTENDED CAMP IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, PARTICIPATING IN OVER 16,260 HOURS OF INNOVATIVE AND ENGAGING CAMP PROGRAMMING. THE IMPACT OF ADVENTURE CAMP IS EVIDENT AS 96% OF CAMPERS SURVEYED DEMONSTRATED AN INCREASE IN SELF-ESTEEM AT HOME, SCHOOL OR IN THE COMMUNITY; WITH 92% OF CHILDREN HAVING INITIATED FRIENDSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS THAT IMPROVED THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS.
- $460,856 spent. CORE PROGRAM: THERAPY - THERAPY IS CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN TO IMPROVE STRENGTH, ENDURANCE, AND MOBILITY, WHILE ALSO INCREASING THEIR LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE AT HOME AND SCHOOL. VARIETY ENSURES THAT CHILDREN WHO NEED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, SPEECH, AQUA OR HIPPOTHERAPY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS REGULAR SESSIONS, AND THAT COST DOES NOT PREVENT A CHILD FROM RECEIVING THIS CARE SO IMPORTANT TO THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, VARIETY PROVIDED 4,093 THERAPY SESSIONS TO 238 CHILDREN. ASSESSMENTS INDICATED THAT 99% OF VARIETY CHILDREN RECEIVING THERAPY DEMONSTRATED BELIEF IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR ABILITIES.
- $151,133 spent. ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS: PERFORMING ARTS - IN KEEPING WITH THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION, VARIETY THEATRE IS AN INCLUSIVE THEATRE PROGRAM THAT GIVES CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM ON STAGE. VARIETY'S THEATRICAL SUMMER CAMP, CURTAIN CALL, INVOLVES INTENSIVE INSTRUCTION IN SINGING, DANCING, AND ACTING WHICH CULMINATES WITH FOUR SHOWCASE PERFORMANCES. ANY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE OR ABILITY, IS INVITED TO ATTEND THIS INCLUSIVE AND ADAPTED EXPERIENCE DIRECTED BY PROFESSIONALS FROM THE WORLD OF MUSICAL THEATRE. STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, VARIETY ST. LOUIS AND THE CENTER OF CREATIVE ARTS (COCA) COLLABORATED ON AN INCLUSIVE ARTS PROGRAM, UNITING CHILDREN AND TEENS AGED 9 TO 20, BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES, AND OFFERING EVERY PARTICIPANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE. 52 TALENTED YOUNG PERFORMERS TOOK THE STAGE IN THE MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF SEUSSICAL JR. AND 44 IN DISNEYS FINDING NEMO JR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY, CAPTIVATING AUDIENCES AND DELIVERING A POWERFUL MESSAGE OF INCLUSION. OUR INCLUSIVE VARIETY CHILDREN'S CHORUS PROGRAM PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR 29 CHILDREN AND TEENS OF ALL ABILITIES TO PERFORM AT A WIDE RANGE OF VENUES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES PARTICIPANTS GAIN VOCAL SKILLS, SOCIALIZATION WITH OTHER CHORUS MEMBERS, AND CONFIDENCE FROM THEIR TIME PERFORMING IN THE SPOTLIGHT. VARIETY ALSO OFFERS A CHILDREN'S DANCE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED 33 CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES THE CHANCE TO LEARN AND PRACTICE MUSICAL THEATRE STYLE CHOREOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE MOVEMENT IN AN INCLUSIVE SETTING. THE CHILDREN'S WILLINGNESS TO TRY NEW THINGS AND TAKE DIRECTION HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN INDEPENDENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND DANCE SKILLS. BOTH THE CHORUS AND DANCE PROGRAMS RUN FOR THIRTY-TWO WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND CULMINATE WITH FEATURE PERFORMANCES AT VARIETY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, A SEATED DANCE CLASS WAS PILOTED PROVIDING DIRECT INSTRUCTION IN DANCE WHILE SEATED IN WHICH 3 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED. THE CLASS LATER JOINED THE MAIN DANCE PROGRAM, PERFORMING TOGETHER AND BOOSTING PARTICIPANTS' SELF-ESTEEM, CONFIDENCE, AND DANCE SKILLS.
- $30,099 spent. ENRICHMENT PROGRAM - FAMILY RESOURCES - THE RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WITH TOOLS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES OF CARING FOR SOMEONE WITH UNIQUE NEEDS. THIS INCLUDES RECEIVING INFORMATION AND RESOURCE REFERRALS FOR NEEDS OUTSIDE OF VARIETY'S PROGRAM AREAS.
- $48,636 spent. ENRICHMENT PROGRAM - AWARENESS - VARIETY IS DEDICATED TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND RAISING AWARENESS OF ITS MISSION, EMPHASIZING INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY, AND THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE FAMILIES IT SUPPORTS. THROUGH SHARING SUCCESS STORIES, CREATING ENGAGING VIDEO CONTENT, AND PROMOTING ITS PROGRAMS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL MARKETING, PRINT CAMPAIGNS, AND ITS WEBSITE, VARIETY STRIVES TO INCREASE UNDERTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR ITS MISSION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1968.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.