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Prescription Joy

EIN 82-3992153 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Mission: Prescription Joy supports holistic healing through curiosity and interpersonal play. Vision: Transformation through curiosity and interpersonal play. Our Core Values: Everyone has a right to joy. Transparency Sustainability Equity Care Joy. Prescription Joy interacts with children families older adults and staff members of hospitals assisted living facilities and shelters in the Greater New Orleans Louisiana area. We aim to transform an environment of stress fear loneliness and boredom into one of human connection imagination and play. Prescription Joy also hosts community health talks and produces originally written hospital plays that tour to each location.

Income
$133,733
Spending
$106,691
Reserves
6.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%

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

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (health care, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

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

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (3)
  1. $47,965 spent. Prescription Joy serves children and families across the Gulf Coast through regular visits at four key locations: Manning Family Childrens Hospital New Orleans Ochsner Childrens Hospital St. Bernard Parish Hospital and the New Orleans Women and Childrens Shelter. At each site our therapeutic performance artists create moments of play laughter and connection that support the well-being of patients families and staff. Beyond direct visits we invest in continued education for our healthcare clowns. We host trainings in trauma informed care child development while also collaborating with local and international experts to expand skills in puppetry improvisation and somatic practices. Our artists participate in debriefs and reflective supervision after visits ensuring growth in artistry and compassion. Through this focus on bringing joy into hospitals and sustaining professional development we strengthen the standard of care in therapeutic healthcare clowning.
  2. $7,336 spent. Partnerships with local organizations such as Goat in the Road Productions to support young play writes and Lighthouse Louisiana to gameify occupational therapy activities for children with different visual conditions.
  3. $4,327 spent. Offering workshops to the public in theatrical clown training slapstick and other mission-related classes

Source: Form 990EZ 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.