Pathfinders Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PATHFINDERS FOR AUTISM WORKS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 58%
- Reserves
- 22.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 198
- Highest pay
- $105,824, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1558% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (diseases, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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, 2024, 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 (3)
- $181,211 spent. COMMUNITY: GROWING RELATIONSHIPS AND EDUCATING ALL MEMBERS WITHIN MARYLAND TO INCREASE AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS.SERVICES INCLUDE - HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, AUTISM 101 TRAINING, EDUCATOR AND STUDENT TRAINING, INPUT ON MARYLAND POLICIES, EDUCATING ELECTED OFFICIALS, RESOURCE FAIRS, AND SELF-ADVOCACY GROUP.~AND~PROVIDING EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS TO ENGAGE AND ENJOY SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT MARYLAND FOSTERING GREATER BELONGING FOR ALL.EVENTS INCLUDE - AQUARIUM EVENT, SCIENCE CENTER EVENT, LADEW GARDENS EVENT, BASEBALL EVENTS, SAILING EVENT, TRAIN GARDEN, SWIM EVENT, ADULT SOCIAL GROUP, ONLINE EVENTS, BINGO, MOVIES, YOGA, SCAVENGER HUNT, COOKING CLASS, TRIVIA NIGHT, AND ART ACTIVITIES.
- $165,691 spent. RESOURCE: OFFERING AND DEVELOPING GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR SUPPORT NETWORKS IN LOCATING PROVIDERS AND INFORMATION TO MEET THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.SERVICES INCLUDE - HELP LINE 443.330.5341, PROVIDER DIRECTORY, COMMUNITY CALENDAR, PARENT/CAREGIVER EDUCATION, PFA TIP ARTICLES, WEBINAR LIBRARY, WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA, AND LIST SERVE/EBLAST.
- $257,629 spent. SAFETY: EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL TRAINING IN THE MOST PREVALENT SAFETY AREAS TO REDUCE AND PREVENT THE RISK OF INJURY AND DANGER.SERVICES INCLUDE - SWIM SAFETY, SWIM LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS, LIFEGUARD EDUCATION, SWIM INSTRUCTOR EDUCATION, MOCK TRAFFIC STOPS, PARENT TRAINING WANDERING & ELOPEMENT, FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING, WANDERING/ELOPEMENT AND DROWNING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2000.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.