Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROVIDES LIFE-CHANGING, HIGHLY SPECIALIZED, INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION AND THERAPIES IN A SETTING WITH A VERY LOW STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO. THIS HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION PREPARES THE CHILDREN FOR A LIFETIME OF MAXIMIZED EDUCATION AS WELL AS SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE.THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION IS THAT ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES, ARE CHILDREN FIRST. THIS IMPLIES CONSIDERATION OF THE CHILD AS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH SPECIAL HUMAN NEEDS AND RIGHTS WHO IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HIS OR HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL'S CURRICULUM ADDRESSES ALL AREAS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN A SEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENTAL AND EARLY ACADEMIC PROGRAM.THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS A BLEND OF SELF-CONTAINED CLASSROOMS AND AN INCLUSION PROGRAM THAT IS A UNIQUE COLLABORATION WITH WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
- Income
- $3.4 million
- Spending
- $3.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -9.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 72%
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $175,291, 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
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 71% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2521 of 21 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 (1)
- $3.0 million spent. THE MISSION OF THE FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER IS TO EDUCATE AND CELEBRATE CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES. CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL IS SERVING 90 CHILDREN AGES 2-6 YEARS OLD, AND ULTIMATELY PLANS TO REACH THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 125 CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND VISION AND HEARING SERVICES, WHICH ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH CHILD. CHILDREN WHO ATTEND FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER ENJOY MUSIC THERAPY, MOVEMENT CLASSES, NUTRITIOUS DAILY MEALS AND SNACKS AS WELL AS AN OPTIONAL SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL'S STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO IS NEVER LARGER THAN 1:6 AND ALL LEAD TEACHERS HAVE AN NC TEACHING LICENSE.
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1967.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.