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Special Camps for Special Kids

EIN 75-2205242 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CAMP JOHN MARC INSPIRES CONFIDENCE FOR LIFE THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY CAMPING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES. YEAR ROUND PROGRAMMING AND SPECIALIZED CAMP FACILITIES ARE UNIQUELY DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS, COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING CAMPERS LIVING WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. THE DIGNITY OF EACH CAMPER IS NURTURED AT CAMP JOHN MARC AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

Income
$4.1 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
61
Volunteers
900
Highest pay
$208,851, executive director

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: 65 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    88 of 88 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 (1)
  1. $2.7 million spent. SPECIAL CAMPS FOR SPECIAL KIDS SERVES CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES AND MAJOR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE CHILDREN, BY MAKING POSSIBLE HIGH-QUALITY, YEAR-ROUND CAMPING EXPERIENCES AT CAMP JOHN MARC. THROUGH ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF CAMPING, 2,224 CAMPERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF CAMP AND BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS SHARING SIMILAR MEDICAL CHALLENGES IN 2025. THROUGH TEN WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMPS AND 29 SPRING/FALL WEEKEND CAMPS, CAMPERS WERE SERVED BY THE EFFORTS OF 1,183 VOLUNTEERS AND MEDICAL TEAM MEMBERS. SPECIAL CAMPS CELEBRATED ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025 AND IS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY CARING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MADE POSSIBLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE 83,387 AMAZING CAMPERS SINCE ITS OPENING IN 1991.

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 November 6, 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 May 1988.

    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 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.