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Childrens Care Hospital & School

EIN 46-0233030 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE.VISION STATEMENT:LIFESCAPE WILL BE AN INNOVATIVE ORGANIZATION, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH VARIED NEEDS AND COMPLEX CARE ACROSS THEIR LIFE SPAN. KEY FACTORS IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS ARE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, STRIVING TO BECOME A DESTINATION FOR RESEARCH, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING, IMPLEMENTING, AND TRAINING OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WE SUPPORT.

Income
$73.2 million
Spending
$43.0 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
6.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 64%
Employees
703
Volunteers
1,137
Highest pay
$464,972, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 13% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $35.1 million spent. CHILDREN'S CARE HOSPITAL & SCHOOL (CCHS) IS ADDITIVE TO THE FABRIC OF CARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA BY BEING THE SOLE PROVIDER OF SPECIFIC MEDICAID BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR THE CHILDREN OF SOUTH DAKOTA.IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, CCHS PROVIDED SERVICES FOR OVER 4,400 INDIVIDUALS FROM 9 STATES, FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 21 WITH DISABILITIES OR REHABILITATION NEEDS IN ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS. IN SOUTH DAKOTA ALONE, MORE THAN 3,800 CHILDREN WERE SERVED FROM 65 OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S 66 COUNTIES AND 257 TOWNS AND CITIES. MORE THAN 1,000 OF THOSE CHILDREN RECEIVED MORE THAN ONE SERVICE FROM LIFESCAPE. OUTPATIENT AND OUTREACH SERVICES, WHICH ARE COMMUNITY BASED, SERVED MORE THAN 3,600 OF THOSE CHILDREN IN SIOUX FALLS AND RAPID CITY, SD. SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE LIMITED TO, THERAPIES RANGING FROM PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL TO SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, SEATING AND POSITIONING, AND POWERED MOBILITY SERVICES.IN SIOUX FALLS, THE HIRING OF A DIRECTOR OF THE AUTISM CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER HAS GENERATED A DIRECT CUT TO THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WAITING FOR AUTISM EVALUATIONS, RESULTING IN A DROP FROM 397 IN FY24 TO 289 IN FY25. IN RAPID CITY, THE WAITLIST CONTINUED TO GROW FOR APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) SERVICES AND AUTISM EVALUATIONS. HOWEVER, DUE TO AN INCREASE IN NEED FOR SPECIALIZED NUTRITION CARE TAILORED TO MEET UNIQUE NEEDS, PEDIATRIC MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY SERVICES BEGAN TO BE OFFERED IN OUTPATIENT SETTINGS IN SIOUX FALLS.LIFESCAPE'S CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY HOSPITAL CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN SOUTH DAKOTA. IN FY25, 33 CHILDREN WERE SERVED IN THE HOSPITAL. IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM AND INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITY, 114 CHILDREN FROM THREE STATES WERE SERVED, MOST OF WHOM ALSO ATTENDED LIFESCAPE'S SPECIALTY SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE 145 DAY STUDENTS AT THE 26TH STREET CAMPUS AND PATHWAYS TO LIFE SCHOOL. IN LATE FY25, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE MOVED TO THE VISTA PARK LOCATION TO BETTER SUIT THEIR NEEDS AND CREATE A TRUE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.IN SOUTH DAKOTA, LIFESCAPE EMPLOYS 4 OUT OF 5 SEATING & MOBILITY SPECIALISTS, AND HAS THE 1ST AND ONLY SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST IN SWALLOWING DISORDERS, WHICH HAS LED TO REFERRALS FROM OUT OF STATE.

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 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 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 March 1956.

    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.