Chai Lifeline
Also known as Camp Simcha
Chai Lifeline reported $32.8 million in revenue and $32.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $83.04 went to program services, $8.33 to management and general costs and $8.63 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 122.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $538,163 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 38% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $32MFor context, the median across 5,634 covered health care charities: $86.19 programs, $13.81 management, $0.00 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $33M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$97.02 $40M
- Government grants$1.14 $467K
- Program service revenue$0.19 $79,363
- Investment income$1.65 $675K
Other revenue was negative: −$8.1M. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.0% | 85.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 13.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.6% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 122.4% | 1.3% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 0.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.2% | 93.7% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $538,163 | $975,831 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.67% | 1.34% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 43 | 27 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.2 | 6.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 17 of 17 | 88.9% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFamily and community programs: these programs restore a sense of normalcy to young patients and their families while fighting illness by enhancing emotional and social bonds. In the past year, thousands of big brothers and sisters served as mentors to ill children and siblings. 63 holiday parties and family days gave children and families a chance to celebrate together. I-shine afterschool programming provided support and care to 1,003 children living with illness or loss in their families. 12,536 crisis and trauma interventions, workshops, presentations, and consultations reached over…
Summer camp programs: Chai Lifeline operates two medically supervised summer camp programs on one campus for seriously ill children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses. Camp simcha is open to children and teens with cancer and other blood-based illnesses. Camp simcha special is designed to meet the medical and social needs of children and teens with multiple, disparate chronic illnesses and/or disabilities. Each camp runs two, two-week sessions every summer at their 125-acre, fully accessible campground in glen spey, ny. Activities include adapted sports, swimming (including red…
Hospital and home-based services: goals include enabling the family unit to continue to function during medical crises; providing in-hospital support to patients and caregivers; and bringing joy and hope to young patients and their families. Initial support begins with a case manager's evaluation that identifies needs and suggests programmatic responses. In 2024, Chai Lifeline provided emotional, social, and financial support to 10,952 families through medical referrals and advocacy; 5,595 volunteers raised spirits and provided critical support; 91,406 people received transportation to…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $472,345 | $0 | $65,818 | $538,163 |
| BIKE4CHAI/ NJ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $357,167 | $0 | $90,967 | $448,134 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $328,638 | $0 | $13,562 | $342,200 |
| DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $264,054 | $0 | $75,836 | $339,890 |
| DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICE Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $235,517 | $0 | $82,085 | $317,602 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Officer, 50.00 hrs/week | $283,740 | $0 | $32,730 | $316,470 |
| DIRECTOR OF BIKE4CHAI Highest compensated employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $228,934 | $0 | $71,647 | $300,581 |
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Key employee, 50.00 hrs/week | $215,076 | $0 | $78,027 | $293,103 |
43 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Chai Lifeline (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.3M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b17 · 17 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5270
- Volunteers Part I, line 65,595
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| NEXGEN BUILDERS LLC Construction services | $1,430,476 |
| WEISS BROTHERS OF NESHER Catering services | $368,500 |
| CADENCE EVENT MANAGEMENT LLC Event management | $358,768 |
| ZAMI INC Catering services | $237,968 |
| REGAL LITH PRINTERS LLC Printing services | $201,062 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 18 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
215 private foundations reported grants to Chai Lifeline totaling $1.7M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Chai Lifeline's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Chai Lifeline, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Chai Lifeline spent in 2024, $83.04 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Planned Parenthood League of MassachusettsBoston, MA · revenue $33M · programs 71.9% · FY2025
- Buchanan General HospitalGrundy, VA · revenue $33M · programs 74.2% · FY2025
- Capitol City Family Health CenterBaton Rouge, LA · revenue $33M · programs 66.3% · 2024
- Pathways Home Health and HospiceSunnyvale, CA · revenue $33M · programs 90.9% · FY2025
- St Francis Healthcare System of HawaiiHonolulu, HI · revenue $33M · programs 87.8% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of Chai Lifeline's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Chai Lifeline reported that 83.0% of its $32.3 million in expenses went to program services, 8.3% to management and general and 8.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Chai Lifeline pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Chai Lifeline reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $538,163, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Chai Lifeline get its money?
Of $32.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 122.4% came from contributions and grants (including 1.4% from government grants) and 0.2% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Chai Lifeline a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 11-2940331 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202512769349301236 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403169349303850 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303139349302655 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243189349308499 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202123199349309767 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043179349301539 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 11-2940331: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.