Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Planning Council

EIN 54-0505998 · Norfolk, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY NEEDS, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH SOLUTIONS AND IMPROVE LIVES.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$13.6 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 99%
Employees
41
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$173,593, ceo/president

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

Financial health

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    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 December 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 (2)
  1. $11.0 million spent. CHILDREN'S SERVICES - TPC ADMINISTERS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP) ACROSS EIGHTEEN COUNTIES IN MARYLAND, EASTERN VIRGINIA, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, TPC MONITORS APPROXIMATELY 1,100 CHILDCARE HOMES AND CENTERS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL NUTRITION STANDARDS. EACH MONTH, APPROXIMATELY 11,000 CHILDREN, LIVING AT OR BELOW 300% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS THROUGH PARTICIPATING PROVIDERS. MEALS SERVED THROUGH CACFP OFTEN REPRESENT A PRIMARY SOURCE OF CONSISTENT, BALANCED NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN IN CARE. IN ADDITION TO OVERSIGHT AND REIMBURSEMENT ADMINISTRATION, TPC PROVIDES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TO PROMOTE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND HEALTHY MEAL PLANNING.TPC ALSO OPERATES THE MILITARY EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP) RESPITE CARE PROGRAM UNDER A CONTRACT WITH CHILD CARE AWARE OF AMERICA. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, TPC CONNECTS APPROXIMATELY 230 MILITARY FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WITH APPROXIMATELY 165 QUALIFIED RESPITE CARE PROVIDERS. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS MILITARY FAMILIES BY COORDINATING ACCESS TO TRAINED CAREGIVERS WHO PROVIDE TEMPORARY, HIGH-QUALITY RESPITE SERVICES.
  2. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNITY PLANNING - THE PLANNING COUNCIL (TPC) ADDRESSES THE UNMET NEEDS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BY PROVIDING EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY NEEDS AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS, DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, COALITION BUILDING, STRATEGIC PLANNING, OUTCOME MEASUREMENT, GRANT WRITING, AND RESEARCH. TPC OFFERS TRAINING, CONSULTATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND COORDINATES REGIONAL PLANNING FOR HOMELESS PROGRAMS FUNDED BY HUD AND THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACROSS SOUTH HAMPTON ROADS AND THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONDUCTING FOCUS GROUPS, ASSESSING SERVICE GAPS, COORDINATING CONTINUUM OF CARE MEETINGS WITH 110 PARTNER AGENCIES, REPORTING TO FUNDERS, MANAGING THE HMIS DATABASE WITH 369 LICENSES, AND HOSTING WEBSITES SERVING 125 PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. TPC ALSO PARTNERS WITH SENTARA'S HOPE (HELPING OVERCOME PERSONAL EMERGENCY) FUND AS AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY, REVIEWING MORE THAN 1,250 APPLICATIONS ANNUALLY AND DISTRIBUTING OVER $1,000,000 IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCING CATASTROPHIC FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, HELPING THEM MAINTAIN STABILITY IN HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND BASIC NEEDS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 December 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 January 1959.

    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.