Chris Center Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE MENTAL WELLNESS FOR TEENS AND PRE-TEENS IN GREATER INDIANAPOLIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE AND THE HEALING POWER OF HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION.
- Income
- $307,233
- Spending
- $202,790
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 10 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 40
- Highest pay
- $75,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 158% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 76 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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)
- $135,195 spent. THE PAWS WELLNESS SUPPORT PROGRAM IS A RESEARCH-INFORMED PROGRAM THAT BRINGS REGISTERED HANDLER-DOG TEAMS INTO SCHOOLS AND YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE MENTAL WELLNESS, FOSTER CONNECTION, AND BUILD RESILIENCE. IN 2024, WE PARTNERED WITH 7 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS SEVERAL YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE OVER 600 STUDENTS, 450 EDUCATORS & YOUTH WORKERS. OUR 28 VOLUNTEER HANDLER-DOG TEAMS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 6000 STUDENT-DOG INTERACTIONS AND 2000 ADULT-DOG INTERACTIONS.
- MINDFUL ARTS PROGRAM - THE CHRIS CENTER'S MINDFUL ARTS PROGRAM PROMOTES YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH NATURE-BASED ARTMAKING. DEVELOPED AND FACILITATED BY A LICENSED COUNSELOR AND ART THERAPIST, WE OFFERED TWO 6-WEEK SESSIONS AT EACH OF TWO PARTNER SCHOOLS IN 2024. STUDENTS REPORTED IMPROVED MOOD, REDUCED STRESS, STRONGER PEER CONNECTION, AND GREATER CONFIDENCE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
- ALPACA-ASSISTED WELLNESS PROGRAM - THE CHRIS CENTER'S ALPACA-ASSISTED WELLNESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH NATURE EXPLORATION AND HUMAN-ANIMAL CONNECTION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE PROGRAM ENGAGES TEENS AND PRE-TEENS IN GUIDED ACTIVITIES AT STONE FARMLED BY A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND CERTIFIED EQUINE SPECIALISTTO BUILD MINDFULNESS, REDUCE STRESS, AND FOSTER EMPATHY AND CONNECTION. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM SERVED OVER 50 STUDENTS THROUGH FIELD TRIPS AND SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES.
- PARENT EDUCATION SERIES - THE CHRIS CENTER'S PARENT EDUCATION SERIES OFFERS EXPERT-LED LECTURES ON KEY ADOLESCENT WELLNESS TOPICS SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA AND MENTAL HEALTH, NEURODIVERSITY, CHILDHOOD ANXIETY, AND PARENT-TEEN COMMUNICATION. PRESENTED BY BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THE SERIES EQUIPS CAREGIVERS WITH INSIGHTS AND TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUTH WELLBEING. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM WAS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CARMEL CLAY PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 80 PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2021.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.