Jester & Pharley Phund
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Jester & Pharley Phund is dedicated to engaging underserved and ill children through the joys of reading and laughter, empowering them with greater self-efficacy, resilience, compassion and hope for the future. Our programs are centered on the award-winning childrens book The Jester Has Lost His Jingle, written and illustrated by David Saltzman who died in 1990 at 22 from cancer. His story, now in its 30th year of publication, inspires children to live up to The Jester & Pharleys motto: Its up to us to make a difference. Its up to us to care.
- Income
- $262,943
- Spending
- $237,217
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 29.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 5
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 29.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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.
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 September 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 (2)
- $64,988 spent. Our medical program - Smiles For Kids With Cancer - brings educational and emotional support to hospitalized children while providing health-care professionals with powerful tools to raise the spirits of ill children and their families with the original English Jester or our bilingual English/Spanish edition. To date, 82,010 Jester books have been donated to over 440 hospitals and medical-support organizations, including 5,053 books during this fiscal year. Support comes from foundations, businesses, civic groups and individuals. Jester books are distributed on an ongoing basis according to each hospitals needs. Expenses include the printing and personalizing of each bookplate acknowledging the donor(s) of each gift book and Jester & Pharley Doll as well as the cost of goods, communication, storage, packaging and shipping. Hospitals, cancer-support centers and recipient families have particularly appreciated the donation of Jester books in 2024-25 because The Jesters emotional support helps children cope with post-covid depression and sadness. Thank you for giving critically ill children and their families strength and hope for happier, healthier days, reported the Washington, D.C., Ronald McDonald House guest services manager.
- $154,531 spent. Our literacy programs increase elementary students interest in reading - opening the door to academic success. Motivating assemblies inspire students to join a Jester Read-A-Thon that generates the donation of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle books and Jester & Pharley Dolls to local hospitalized children. In the process, students get hooked on reading - raising grade-level reading, test scores, fluency and comprehension while developing growing empathy for others. During the last 24 years, students have read over 57 million pages to help ill children benefit from The Jesters messages of self-empowerment, perseverance and humor. Expenses include the printing and personalizing of each bookplate acknowledging the donor(s) of each gift book and doll as well as the cost of project development, assemblies, communication, goods, storage, packaging, transportation and shipping. A. Reading Makes A Difference (RMD) We bring this sponsor-supported program celebrating literacy to low-income schools. The program helps further educational equity among disenfranchised students coping with poverty, social isolation and learning loss. The school receives three Jester & Pharley Phund educator-developed Jester enrichment manuals for each classroom that complement state standards plus a copy of the hardcover bilingual English/Spanish Jester. A meaningful PowerPoint presentation with motivating assemblies expands student interest in reading - furthering academic achievement and compassion. Support comes from foundations, businesses, civic groups and individuals. A 12th grade college applicant who participated in our program as an elementary student, said that Reading can change your life in many ways. I always want to comfort people who are ill to help them out. This program inspired me. Educators have asked us to expand our focus on social emotional learning so that students and families can benefit even more from the late authors central messages of hope, resilience, perseverance, humor and optimism during this unsettling time. In fiscal year 2024-25, the 14 underserved schools enthusiastically participating in our RMD program read 1,362,210 pages, resulting in 448 Jester books and 349 Jester & Pharley Dolls donated to hospitals in their communities. B. Reading To Give (RTG) Students from middle-income elementary schools, inspired by The Jester, create a Jester Read-A-Thon to raise funds among family and friends to donate Jester books and Jester & Pharley Dolls to local pediatric patients. While the RTG program didnt take place in fiscal 2024-25, we anticipate schools joining this project again soon. Said one former participant about the impact of The Jester: Its one of my personal favorites with a beautiful message of hope and joy. I hope that it helps more children find joy during these difficult days.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 July 2000.
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.
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