Institute for Exceptional Care
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Transforming healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so they can thrive.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 66%
- Reserves
- -3.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $145,772, policy 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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 63% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1566% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 64% of charities in its peer group (medical research, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 15 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 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)
- $1.0 million spent. Thought Leadership: Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) chaired the Planning Committee for a public workshop of the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, on the policy, clinical, and business actions needed to build an integrated system of care for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The workshop featured over 30 stakeholders and experts in the field, addressing the critical topics of better coordination of support services across clinical and home- and community-based sectors, improving the cultural and technical preparedness of the general clinical workforce to care for people with I/DD, and improving financing and payment to sustain effective care models. IEC also: Led the design of all disability-related discussions at a national health equity conference with over 9,000 attendees from across the fields of clinical care and health policy. Produced an analysis of federal policy options to improve mental health outcomes for people with I/DD. Co-chaired other workshops and publications from the National Academy of Medicine on policy and programmatic options for improving the health of communities, particularly for vulnerable populations including people with I/DD. Research and Analysis: IEC sponsored three critical analyses to support the design of better care systems for people with I/DD: (1) Case studies of financing and payment innovations across the United States; (2) reviews of the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to coordination between clinical and non-clinical service sectors, identification of 13 key coordination functions, and the design of an alternative framework for coordination that specifies which stakeholders should be responsible for which functions; and (3) review of current methods for risk stratification and producing a conceptual framework for predicting the types and levels of clinical and non-clinical services that a person with I/DD will need, in order to support better budgeting, financing, and payment. Education: IEC sponsored a webinar for a community of students, alumni, and staff at an independent residential school for children with I/DD, on the elements of neurodiverse friendly healthcare. The webinar addressed important physical accommodations in clinical practices, the potential and challenges of telehealth, and suggestions for how people with I/DD and caregivers can advocate for better care. Additional Info: -Completed development of the Always Uniquely Me App, to help people with IDD and caregivers convey the most important information to clinical teams that dont know them well. -Held two policy summits on health outcome priorities for people with IDD. -Successfully promoted the concept of advanced primary care payment in large Medicare programs. -Provided technical assistance to the Senate for bipartisan legislation on better payment for primary care. -Grew the IDD Advocate Corps to 90 members and formed committees with charters, goals, and training. -Launched an online collaboration portal for the IDD Advocate Corps. Began a story bank. -Created Discourse, a continuing clinical education course on how clinicians can support people with communication disabilities. -Created four printable tools for dental practices to improve communication, accessibility, and patient preparation for dental visits. -Developed an advocacy strategy for the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. -Presented IECs work and approach at numerous conferences and to diverse audiences of clinicians, policy leaders, disability groups, and insurers.
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
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 December 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 January 2021.
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.