University Child Development School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE OUNIVERSITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL (UCDS) DESIGNS A CULTURE OF INQUIRY ESSENTIAL TO MEANINGFUL LEARNING. WE CULTIVATE REFLECTIVE, COLLABORATIVE, SKILLFUL THINKERS WHO IGNITE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE ENGAGE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO SHAPE AND SHARE OUR INNOVATIVE EDUCATION MODEL.
- Income
- $18.6 million
- Spending
- $18.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- -8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 187
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $340,008, head of school
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 50% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 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 June 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 (3)
- $12.8 million spent. INFANT/TODDLER PROGRAM AND PRE-SCHOOL THROUGH 5TH GRADE EDUCATION. IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, UCDS ENROLLED 351 STUDENTS. UCDS IS COMMITTED TO SMALL CLASSES WITH A MAXIMUM OF 19 STUDENTS AND AN AVERAGE TEACHER TO STUDENT RATION OF 1:9. UCDS EMPLOYED 46 CLASSROOM TEACHERS, 19 RESIDENT TEACHERS, AND SPANISH, PE, ART, MUSIC, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND LIBRARY SPECIALISTS. THE UCDS FACULTY HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATING CHILDREN. UCDS' CHILDCARE PROGRAM SERVES AN AVERAGE OF 40 CHILDREN/MONTH. IN 2024-25, $1,090,517 WAS SPENT ON THIS PROGRAM.
- $766,678 spent. THE UCDS INSTITUTE (FORMERLY - TEACHER EDUCATION CENTER): THE UCDS INSTITUTE CREATES AND CULTIVATES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS. THE INSTITUTE IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING TEACHER EXCELLENCE AND ENHANCING EDUCATION AT UCDS AND IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THE GRADUATE SCHOOL PREPARES EDUCATORS WITH THE SKILLS AND PRACTICES TO AFFECT LEARNING IN A VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS.
- $1.0 million spent. AFTER SCHOOL CARE (EDP) AND CLUBS AND SUMMER PROGRAM: CHILDREN ATTENDING THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS EXPLORE ALL SORTS OF EXCITING SUBJECT MATTER, BOTH ON-CAMPUS AND DURING PLANNED FIELD TRIPS, WHICH ENCOURAGES THEM TO DISCOVER NEW THINGS ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 June 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 August 1982.
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 October 21, 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.