National Child Research Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O.
- Income
- $8.5 million
- Spending
- $7.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 64
- Volunteers
- 150
- Highest pay
- $291,803, head of school-part year
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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 23 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 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 (2)
- $5.9 million spent. FOR GENERATIONS, NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTER HAS LED THE WAY AS A MODEL PLAY-BASED PRESCHOOL, PROVIDING A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO PRESCHOOL EDUCATION. NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTER NURTURES THE WHOLE CHILD AND FEEDS AND CHANNELS A CHILDS NATURAL INQUISITIVENESS TO FOSTER A LIFETIME INTEREST IN LEARNING AND EXPLORING. NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTERS CURRICULUM IS BASED ON SOUND RESEARCH - IT IS STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1928, NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTER HAS WELCOMED CHILDREN WHO BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AND ADAPTATIONS WITH THE BELIEF THAT A DIVERSE COMMUNITY BROADENS EACH CHILDS PERSPECTIVE AND BRINGS ADDED GIFTS TO THE PROGRAM. NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTERS TEACHERS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIALISTS SUPPORT A CHILDS EARLY DEVELOPMENT IN WAYS THAT ARE FUN AND ENGAGING, GIVING THEM THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED EVERY DAY AND THROUGHOUT LIFE. IN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, NATIONAL CHILD RESEARCH CENTER EDUCATED 170 PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS AGE 2 TO 6 YEARS.
- $195,324 spent. OPTIONAL PROGRAMS: PROGRAMS, SUCH AS LUNCH BUNCH, AND LATER GATORS, ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXTEND THEIR DAY AND PROVIDE ENRICHMENT OPPURTUNITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. RAINBOW CAMP: CAMP IS A SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVING APPROXIMATELY 74 CHILDREN, AGES 2 TO 6. CAMP FEATURES A WIDE RANGE OF AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN THAT NURTURE THE SOCIALIZATION, SELF-EXPRESSION AND GROWTH OF THE WHOLE CHILD. SESSIONS ARE FULL AND HALF-DAY FOR 6 WEEKS DURING JUNE AND JULY.
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
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 June 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 March 1948.
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.