Landmarks for Families Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
For more than 230 years, Landmarks for Families has been a refuge for thousands of children and youth, providing services and support for children who have experienced trauma in our community. Known as a leader and champion for children in the state of South Carolina, Landmarks for Families provides comprehensive treatment for children and adolescents who have experienced emotional, physical, and sexual trauma through its various programs.
- Income
- $4.3 million
- Spending
- $5.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 86
- Volunteers
- 250
- Highest pay
- $189,256, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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, 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)
- $3.0 million spent. Residential Services Foster/Group Home Landmarks for Families operates two residential care facilities, which provide temporary and/or long-term care for children suffering from the impact of emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse and neglect. These programs take place in homelike, holistic settings that are ingrained with the philosophy of the Teaching Family Model.Landmarks for Families provides a safe, healthy environment for children to live in, as well as comprehensive assessment and support services designed to address each child's individual educational, emotional, physical, and social needs. (See Schedule O)In close partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) and other partner organizations, Landmarks for Families works to achieve each child's permanency plan goals. The length of stay ranges from a few days to a few years, depending on the individual youth's circumstances. While we strive to provide a supportive, comfortable, and homelike environment, we are always working towards connecting the youth in our care to their loved ones and support systems when possible.Ledford HouseLedford House is a cottage designed for high school-aged youth (primarily 15- to 17-year-olds) in DSS custody. Eligibility:> May be referred by: - Department of Social Services (DSS) - Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) - Other social service agencies> Ledford House is licensed to accept 10 residents. NuHouseNuHouse is a cottage providing transitional housing for youth aging out of foster care. Young adults aged 18 to 21 who voluntarily remain in the foster care system live in a supportive environment that focuses on helping them transition, with skills and confidence, to living independently. Residents are assisted with skill-building and goal planning tailored to their individual needs. Youth are expected to actively work towards educational success, employability, and personal growth goals with the help, guidance, and support of program staff. > May be referred by: - Department of Social Services (DSS) - Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) - Other social service agencies> Nuhouse is licensed to accept 6 residents. > Once living in NuHouse, residents must meet the following requirements: - Work toward continued education (GED, finishing high school, or college) - Learn independent living skills - Be employed in some capacity (part-time employment, full-time employment, internships, or SC works workshops)
- $598,258 spent. In-Home Programs Landmarks for Families provides in-home services that aim to eliminate or significantly reduce identified child abuse and neglect risk factors while enhancing family protective factors. Services are provided in the home setting to offer prevention services and support for family unification/reunification by building skills, strengthening family bonds, and working towards family-oriented goals. We believe children and families belong together. And with compassion and understanding at the core of our actions, we are committed to providing services that preserve, maintain, or reunify the family unit. (See Schedule O)Family Resource Connection and Preservation Services (FRCPS)In partnership with a statewide network of providers and the Department of Social Services, Landmarks for Families offers Family Resource Connection and Preservation Services (FRCPS) to help strengthen families through proactive, prevention services. FCRPS offers an enhanced case management program and a comprehensive array of concrete services to address conditions that affect a family's stability and well-being, such as limited resources, relational issues, parenting needs, educational challenges, and other barriers families face during times of stress. Services include, but are not limited to: > Parenting Services > Homemaker Services > Career Exploration and Assessment > Education Services The Landmarks for Families FRCPS team provides timely, integrated, culturally competent, family-driven, and voluntary case management services to reduce the risk of neglect or abuse while enhancing the family's protective factors. The result is a plan that stabilizes and strengthens families. All families face times of stress and moments of crisis. The Landmarks for Families FRCPS team is there to offer support and help families regain their balance during these challenging moments. Eligibility > Families are referred to the Family Resource Connection and Preservation Services (FRCPS) program by the Department of Social Services intake team. Family Success Coach Program:With support from the Duke Foundation, Family Success Coach Services is a post-permanency support program that offers guidance, education, and enhanced case management services for families who have experienced foster or kinship care. The Family Success Coach will work with the family to problem-solve, improve relationships, advocate for resources, build resiliency, and keep families together. Children who have experienced foster or kinship care due to abuse or neglect continue to have risks that negatively impact their well-being after they exit care. As a result, Success Coaches work with these children and families to provide tools proven to strengthen their protective factors and to mitigate their risk factors. The Success Coach addresses:> Social/emotional support> Behavioral/mental health concerns> Educational support/advocacy> Parenting skills/discipline> Family communication> Financial planning>Connections to benefits/resources>Employability/career resourcesEligibility:Services are offered to families who have a child for a permanent placement from the foster care system. > Reunified Families or Kinship Placement: - Child must have exited foster care before the age of 16 and be under the age of 18 at the time of the Family Success service engagement. Families with older children may still receive services if there is another child(ren) living in the home who exited foster care and is under the age of 16. - Child must have been in the custody of the SC Department of Social Services (SC DSS). - Child must currently reside in either Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester County. - Family has a closed case with SC DSS or is in the process of having their case closed.> Adoptive Families: - Finalized adoption has occurred through foster care, stepparent, international, or private adoption. - Child must be under the age of 18 at the time of the Family Success Service Agreement.
- $379,890 spent. Family Education & SupportOur Family Education and Support programs aim to connect families, build support networks, and enhance social involvement. These programs help support children and families through relationship and skill-building, which are protective factors that contribute to thriving families. Services include Parent Education & Support, Summer Programs, After-School Programs, Teen Skill-Building, and Grief Support. These programs are offered in schools, at community facilities, or on one of our campuses. Landmarks for Families offers a variety of workshops, groups, and one-on-one support to caregivers and families seeking knowledge, support, and skill-building. Programs include: Strengthening Families Program: Partnering with Children's Trust of SC, Landmarks for Families is a local provider of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for families with children ages 6-16. The trengthening Families Program is a 14-session, weekly program. Each session typically lasts 1 hours and includes parents and children meeting separately to work with group leaders before coming together for shared activities. Participants who complete the 14-session program graduate in a celebratory style.These groups, held in community centers, schools, and churches, are designed to help families: >Develop positive discipline practices > Stay resilient in tough times> Reduce conflict> Improve parenting skills> Assist children with social skills, relationships, and school performanceAll of these factors play an important role in keeping families strong, safe, and connected while protecting them from behaviors that could result in potential abuse or neglect and adverse childhood experiences.Keep Connected Workshops & Groups:Keep Connected is a research-based, family engagement program that allows parents and teens to learn about positive family relationships during their transition to adolescence.Healthy, strong family relationships are foundational to young people's growth, learning, and well-being. These relationships build strong social and emotional foundations that teens will use throughout their lives. These relationships are important and take effort! Keep Connected workshops offer ideas, activities, and experiences that help build strong family relationships, tools to enhance positive family bonding, and new ways to stay connected as teens grow up. The workshops are for families of pre-teens and teens aged 10-17. Keep Connected workshops include time for:> Parents to explore challenges and strategies with other parenting adults> Youth to explore family relationships with other youth> Parents and youth to explore their relationships together> Strategies and tools to connect and build trust with their familiesEligibility: - All families of pre-teens or teens between the ages of 10 and 17.Freedom Schools Program (through 2025)In partnership with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), Landmarks for Families has been a host of the Freedom Schools program. The CDF Freedom Schools program is a research-based, multicultural, summer literacy camp that provides an enriching curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components:1. High-quality academic enrichment2. Parent and family involvement3. Civic engagement and social action4. Intergenerational leadership development5. Nutrition, health, and mental healthThe Freedom Schools program fosters environments that support children and young adults (known as "scholars" in the CDF Freedom Schools program) to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, schools, communities, country, and world, with hope, education, and action.The Freedom Schools programs empower scholars to believe in their ability and responsibility to make a difference while instilling in them a love of reading to help them avoid summer learning loss. The program boosts student motivation to read, generates more positive attitudes toward learning, and connects the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities.Eligibility: - The Freedom Schools Summer Camp is open to K-12 students in the Lowcountry area.Youth Rise! Summer Program (Beginning 2026)Youth Rise! is a 6-week summer program that focuses on four core developmental pillars for youth placed in a Department of Social Services residential program. The four core pillars are:1. Academic SupportYouth involved in the child welfare system experience significant educational interruptions, often delaying their mastery to literacy and math concepts. Youth Rise! will provide individual academic support via a combination of direct "live" instruction and technology.2. Career DevelopmentBeginning with career assessments, each youth will create an individualized plan to propel them towards their chosen career path. These plans will include internships (both paid and voluntary), job skills (e.g., resume writing, completing applications, interview skills), if desired and appropriate, obtaining a summer job, and on-campus course options, such as Serve Safe, to improve their employability.3. Leadership DevelopmentYouth Rise! will explore with the youth the belief that everyone is a leader. The youth will practice speaking in public, both informally and formally, to improve their communication skills and confidence. As part of this module, youth will work through the 12 core values of West Point, which are characteristics of strong, successful leaders, using the book Character Carved in Stone by Pat Williams. 4. Life SkillsThe final module will address practical, hands-on skills such as cooking, property care, physical health and wellness, CPR and First Aid, Driver's Education, and more. Teen After-School Centers (TASC):Landmarks for Families partners with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (SC DJJ) to host a community Teen After-School Center (TASC). This nationally recognized program is designed to improve youth social, emotional, and behavioral health
- L.Y.G.H.T. - Peer Grief Support GroupThe Listening and Led by Youth in Foster Care: Grief, Hope, and Transitions (L.Y.G.H.T.) program is a peer grief support group influenced by and developed for youth in foster care. The L.Y.G.H.T. program supports, honors, and listens to youth in foster care who are grieving. This grief-informed and trauma-informed intervention is facilitated by supportive adults who acknowledge the challenges and transitions youth experience while navigating the foster care system. L.Y.G.H.T. groups are a safe space for community, connection, and relatedness among youth who the foster care system has touched. L.Y.G.H.T. groups are for ages 12-16.Eligibility: - Any youth who has been touched by the foster care system and is between the ages of 12 and 16.Mental Health ServicesThe clinic at Landmarks For Families offers mental health services for individuals (age 12+) and families in both live and virtual settings. Topics that can be addressed include mental health needs, drug and alcohol abuse, anger management, and more.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 November 6, 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 September 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 June 1978.
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 November 4, 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.