Help seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
70¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 85 volunteers and 10 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $54K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
70%
of spending
Fine: 70% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$249K
to officers and key staff · 17% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 17% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
9 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $3K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$73K
3% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 3% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
12
of 12 voting members
Looks good: 12 of 12 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.3M
-17% vs prior year
Spent
$1.5M
To programs
70%
Net assets
$2.3M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$1.3M
FY2024▼ -17%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.5M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$1.5M
FY2024$1.3M
Expenses
$1.5M
FY2024▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$5.0M
FY2021$1.5M
FY2022$1.7M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.5M
Net assets
$2.3M
FY2024▼ -8%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$2.5M
FY2024$2.3M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2016.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

70 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 70% · $1.1M Management & general 10% · $150K Fundraising 20% · $303K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

16 people listed on the 990; $249K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President and CEO
$248,613Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman Emeritus
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jean Butler’s $249K as President and CEO is at the 95th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3868 $1–10M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jean Butler$248,613$198,532———
Michele Hall-Duncan——$70,125$120,679$137,078
Giselle Miller to 10302020————$109,580

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Encourage Kids Foundation executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Supports seriously ill children and families coping with pain, fear, and isolation.

Questions for Encourage Kids Foundation

Tap to ask. Encourage Kids Foundation sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Encourage Kids Foundation answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $1.1M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Pediatric Hospital Support

This unique hospital program supports therapeutic programs such as music therapy, facility dogs and pet therapy, sensory therapy, recreational rooms, technology and learning devices, equipment and supplies to support a more child-friendly environment, and many other initiatives that enhance the lives of hospitalized children.

$825Kprogram expense
02

Hospital Heppenings

Encourage kids partnered with iconic toy brand, fao schwarz, to create a new, high-quality plush bear. We deliver these beautiful co-branded teddy bears nationwide to help pediatric patients navigate the stress of treatment, illness, and hospitalization.

$227Kprogram expense
03

Mental Health Program

Encourage kids foundation received a grant from mother cabrini health foundation to address the mental health issues among youth that were exacerbated by the pandemic. The foundation assembled a panel of medical experts from its hospital network across the country and developed a pilot program to be distributed to a small number of…

$867program expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$3K
Grants paid · 52 grants · $777K · 2020–2024
Nyc Health HospitalsbellevueNY · FY2024$25,000
Montefiore Medical CenterNY · FY2024$14,000
Ucsf Benioff Children's HospitalsCA · FY2024$10,000
Hurley FoundationMI · FY2024$10,000
Hennepin Health FoundationMN · FY2024$10,000
The Barbara Bush Children's HospitalME · FY2024$7,500
See all 52 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$44K
Money outPt IX
$1.5M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.1M
Managementcol C$150K
Fundraisingcol D$303K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.3M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
PeoplePt VI, VII
16
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a12
IndependentVI 1b12
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$120K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$862K
Investment incomeLn 3$44K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$10K
Total revenueLn 12$1.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$841K
SavingsLn 2$304K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$834K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K
Other assetsLn 15$19K
Total assetsLn 16$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$73K
Net assetsLn 32$2.3M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 685
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$902K$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.3M$834K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$28K$15K
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M$2.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$59K$73K
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$2.3M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$263K$263K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$250K$150K$25K$75K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$175K$105K$39K$31K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$62K$37K$9K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$28K$17K$4K$7K
Legal feesLn 11b$5K$3K$732$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$126K$76K$19K$32K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$101K$61K$15K$25K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$665$399$100$166
Office expensesLn 13$34K$21K$5K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$26K$16K$4K$7K
OccupancyLn 16$27K$16K$4K$7K
TravelLn 17$4K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$4K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$13K$8K$2K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$10K$6K$2K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$342K$257K$2K$84K
All other expensesLn 24e$34K$10K$19K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.5M$1.1M$150K$303K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $1.3M$1.5M−$235K$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.5M$1.4M$169K$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.9M$1.7M$166K$2.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.2M$1.5M$631K$2.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.5M$5.0M−$460K$1.6M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,270,295 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,113,304$1,300,291
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $32,059$44,099
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $382,277−$74,095
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,527,640$1,270,295
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $267,127$262,882
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $530,663$515,056
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $560,652$727,628
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,358,442$1,505,566
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $169,198−$235,271
Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12
VI-1b Independent voting members12
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,270,295 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$862,246
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$438,045
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$119,652
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,300,291
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $54,099$54,099
VIII-5 RoyaltiesExcluded from tax $22,414$22,414
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$10,000−$10,000
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$96,576−$96,576
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $67$67
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$29,996$1,270,295
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,505,566 across 18 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $262,882$262,882
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $150,000 · Management $25,000 · Fundraising $75,000$250,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $105,000 · Management $38,750 · Fundraising $31,250$175,000
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $37,201 · Management $9,301 · Fundraising $15,501$62,003
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $16,832 · Management $4,208 · Fundraising $7,013$28,053
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $2,929 · Management $732 · Fundraising $1,220$4,881
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $75,636 · Management $18,909 · Fundraising $31,515$126,060
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $60,846 · Management $15,212 · Fundraising $25,353$101,411
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $399 · Management $100 · Fundraising $166$665
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $20,592 · Management $5,148 · Fundraising $8,580$34,320
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $15,671 · Management $3,918 · Fundraising $6,529$26,118
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $16,264 · Management $4,066 · Fundraising $6,776$27,106
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,833$3,833
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $4,288$4,288
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,516 · Management $1,880 · Fundraising $3,132$12,528
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,012 · Management $1,503 · Fundraising $2,505$10,020
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $256,714 · Management $1,945 · Fundraising $83,707$342,366
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $10,375 · Management $19,371 · Fundraising $4,286$34,032
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,052,990 · Management $150,043 · Fundraising $302,533$1,505,566
Part X · Balance sheet $2,392,117 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $604,202$841,390
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $297,321$304,346
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $215,637$264,837
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $102,812$113,011
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $27,737$15,210
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,310,275$834,228
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $14,591$19,095
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,572,575$2,392,117
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $59,471$73,149
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $59,471$73,149
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,898,268$1,941,286
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $614,836$377,682
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,513,104$2,318,968
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,572,575$2,392,117
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,318,968 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,270,295
XI-2 Total expenses$1,505,566
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$235,271
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,513,104
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,227
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$39,908
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,318,968

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.