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Parent Encouragement Program Inc

EIN 52-1379642 · Kensington, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE PARENT ENCOURAGEMENT PROGRAM (PEP) IS TO HELP CHILDREN BECOME CONFIDENT, CAPABLE AND RESILIENT BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.

Income
$2.7 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
5.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
82
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$148,989, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 137% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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. $1.3 million spent. THE PEP FAMILY RESILIENCY PROGRAM (PEP-FRP) IS A FREE, EIGHT-WEEK, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, SUPPORT-GROUP STYLE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS STRENGTHEN THEIR CHILDREN'S CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND RESILIENCE. IN FY25, THE PEP-FRP WAS FULLY FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE MARYLAND DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, MD COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES COMMISSION, AND PRIVATE DONORS. OFFERED IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND AMHARIC, PEP-FRP CREATES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACE WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN PRACTICAL PARENTING TOOLS AND APPROACHES THROUGH PEP-PRODUCED EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, FOLLOWED BY GUIDED DISCUSSIONS LED BY TRAINED PEP FACILITATORS FROM THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. GROUP DISCUSSIONS CENTER ON PARTICIPANTS' LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES, FOSTERING SHARED LEARNING AND MUTUAL SUPPORT. IN FY25, NEARLY 1,300 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS (REPRESENTING MORE THAN 2,250 CHILDREN) COMPLETED THE PEP-FRP FROM 4 MARYLAND COUNTIES: MONTGOMERY COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY, FREDERICK COUNTY AND DORCHESTER COUNTY. PEP DELIVERS THE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEMS IN THE RESPECTIVE COUNTIES, WITH A PRIORITY ON OFFERING THE PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS LOCATED IN COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY. BASED ON EVALUATIONS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED BY PEP'S RESEARCH PARTNER NORC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THE PEP-FRP SHOWS EVIDENCE OF HAVING A LARGE POSITIVE IMPACT ALONG 8 SUBSCALES: STRONGER PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP; STRONGER PARENT-CHILD COMMUNICATION; IMPROVED COOPERATION OF CHILD; IMPROVED PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO SUPPORT CHILD WITH SCHOOL WORK; IMPROVED PARENT SELF-SUFFICIENCY; IMPROVED PARENTAL SELF-EFFICACY; INCREASED POSITIVE AND DECREASED NEGATIVE PARENTING BEHAVIORS BY PRIMARY CAREGIVER; AND, IMPROVED PARENTAL ADJUSTMENT.
  2. $143,157 spent. PEP'S WORKPLACE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO PARENTS IN THE WORKPLACE TO HELP THEM IMPROVE WORK/FAMILY BALANCE. WORKPLACE PROGRAM CLIENTS IN FY25 INCLUDED THE US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GITHUB, SERVING A COMBINED TOTAL OF 1,100 FAMILIES IN OVER 27 COUNTRIES. THESE FAMILIES ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF PEP PROGRAMS INCLUDING MONTHLY PEP MASTER CLASSES ON ENCOURAGEMENT, REDEFINING DISCIPLINE AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR; MONTHLY WEBINARS ON TOPICS SUCH AS "UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOR IN NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN,' "ANXIETY AND CHILDREN, AND "BUILDING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS IN CHILDREN; AND "ASK PEP" OFFICE HOURS.
  3. $22,655 spent. PEP'S ONLINE/PUBLIC PROGRAMS: IN FY25, PEP OFFERED OVER 90 FREE WEBINARS, PODCASTS, VIDEOS AND OTHER RESOURCES ON PARENTING CHALLENGES AND OTHER TIMELY TOPICS SUCH AS NURTURING THE NURTURERS: PRIORITIZING PARENT WELL-BEING FOR STRONGER FAMILIES AND TALKING WITH KIDS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH. PEP ALSO OFFERED ITS MONTHLY MASTER CLASSES ON ENCOURAGEMENT, REDEFINING DISCIPLINE AND WHAT YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR MEANS.
  4. $87,045 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS: PEP DEVELOPS CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMS FOR ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING PARENTING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS. ORGANIZATIONAL CLIENTS IN FY25 INCLUDED LINKAGES TO LEARNING, BRILLIANT FUTURES, AND IDENTITY. PEP WORKS WITH EACH OF ITS CLIENTS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY, FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE NONPROFIT IDENTITY (WHICH SERVES LATINO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES), WE OFFER PARENTING PROGRAMS TAILORED FOR LATINO FAMILIES WHO TAKE PART IN IDENTITY'S FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROGRAM.

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 October 1985.

    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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