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Imagine a Center for Coping With Loss

EIN 45-3606502 · Mountainside, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

A YEAR ROUND GRIEF SUPPORT CENTER FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS AND ADULTS COPING WITH THE LOSS OF A FAMILY MEMBER DUE TO DEATH OR LIFE-ALTERING ILLNESS, DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN AND TEENS DEVELOP HEALTHY COPING SKILLS AND FOSTER RESILIENCY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING FOR ALL THOSE WHO GRIEVE.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
5.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
17
Volunteers
225
Highest pay
$199,320, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 August 31, 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. $1.1 million spent. IMAGINE'S CORE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM IS FREE, YEAR ROUND, PEER TO PEER GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS COPING WITH LOSS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 3 - 18, YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR ADULT CAREGIVERS. SUPPORT GROUPS MEET BI-WEEKLY IN OUR MOUNTAINSIDE OR NEWARK LOCATIONS OR VIRTUALLY. IN THE 24 - 25 PROGRAM YEAR, IMAGINE SERVED OVER 600 INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR DIRECT SUPPORT MODEL. PARTICIPANTS ATTEND IMAGINE FOR FREE FOR AS LONG AS THE SERVICES ARE NEEDED. IT TAKES OVER 120 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WHO ATTEND A 3 DAY TRAINING AND THEN RECEIVE ON-GOING COACHING AND SUPERVISION TO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE PEER GRIEF SUPPORT MODEL. EACH NIGHT OF SUPPORT IS OVERSEEN BY A CLINICAL STAFF MEMBER.
  2. $469,906 spent. IMAGINE KNOWS THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO IS GRIEVING WILL BE IN A PEER GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM AT OUR CENTER, BUT THEY WILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF THEIR PEERS. IMAGINE PROVIDES GRIEF EDUCATION AND GRIEF TRAINING TO INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS LOOKING TO BETTER SERVE THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHO ARE GRIEVING. DURING THE 24 - 25 YEAR, IMAGINE TRAINED OVER 3,100 INDIVIDUALS TO BETTER SUPPORT THOSE IN THEIR LIVES WHO ARE GRIEVING. THESE TRAININGS ARE FULLY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES THAT HELP PARTICIPANTS TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN GRIEF AND HOW TO SUPPORT OTHERS WHO ARE GRIEVING.
  3. $16,447 spent. IMAGINE HAS CREATED A RETREAT THAT WE OFFER EACH YEAR, TO VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AT IMAGINE. FROM EXCLUSIVE TO WIDOWS, OR WOMEN, OR MEN, IMAGINE KNOWS THAT GRIEF TAKES A TOLL ON CAREGIVERS AND THAT IN ORDER TO GRIEVE, MANY NEED SPACE AWAY AND TIME TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, SO THEY CAN BE BETTER FOR THEMSELVES AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COUNT ON THEM. IMAGINE ORGANIZES A THREE DAY TWO NIGHT RETREAT EACH YEAR TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR PARTICIPANTS, THAT IS OFFERED FOR FREE TO ALL WHO ATTEND.
  4. $10,451 spent. IMAGINE FAMILIES ARE UNIQUELY CHALLENGED IN THE SPACE THAT AS SOLE CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN, THE SUMMER CAN BE A VERY CHALLENGING TIME. IMAGINE IS PURPOSEFUL ABOUT DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH BOTH GRIEF CAMPS AND TRADITIONAL DAY CAMPS THAT RECEIVE IMAGINE'S TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT IMAGINE FAMILIES HAVE SAFE SUPPORTIVE EXPERIENCES AND OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS, WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT AND LESS CONSISTENCY EXISTS. IMAGINE STAFF SPENDS TIME COMMUNICATING WITH THESE PARTNERS AND WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL CAMP OPTIONS FOR IMAGINE PARTICIPANTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 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 August 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 2012.

    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.