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4 the Children

EIN 02-0666382 · Durango, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

4 the Children is a small non-profit in Southwest Colorado that advocates for and supports children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and family-related trauma. 4 The Childrens mission is to protect childhood today for stronger families tomorrow through three different programs: the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, the Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time (SEPT) program, and the Child Advocacy Center (CAC).

Income
$172,333
Spending
$226,676
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
4
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$60,893, co-exec dir

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: 30 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 59% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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)
  1. $70,774 spent. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a national program that provides a highly trained volunteer, who is assigned by a judge to advocate for the best interest of children who are involved in dependency and neglect cases and placed into foster care. These volunteers often serve as the one consistent adult presence in a childs life during a time of extreme uncertainty and upheaval. CASA volunteers build trusting relationships with the children they serve, monitoring their safety and well-being, and providing informed recommendations to the court regarding services, placement, and permanency. The CASA volunteer will advocate and be the childs voice in court for the entirety of their case.
  2. $70,774 spent. Supervised Exchange and Parenting Time (SEPT) provides supervised visits and safe exchanges for children and families who are involved in high conflict custody cases. SEPT staff and volunteers take detailed and objective summaries of each service provided, these summaries are provided to the families. The SEPT program is designed to support children and families who are in crisis through staff or volunteer neutral observations, prevention of retraumatization, and help families to rebuild trust and their relationships. The SEPT program services are typically a court ordered service that provides supervised visits with children and their non-custodial parent or safe exchanges for children to transition between parents.
  3. $15,727 spent. The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) provides a coordinated, child-friendly response for children who have maybe victims of sexual abuse or sexual assault. The CAC operates using a multidisciplinary team (MDT) model that brings together law enforcement, child protective services, the district attorneys office, forensic interviewers, sexual assault nurse examiners, mental health providers, family advocates, and the local Sexual Assault Services Organization. This collaborative approach reduces trauma for children by limiting the number of times they must recount their experience while ensuring a comprehensive and legally sound response.Through the CAC, children receive a forensic interview conducted by a highly trained interviewer in a safe, developmentally appropriate environment. Family advocates provide caregivers with crisis support, referrals, education, and ongoing assistance to help children and families navigate the legal process and begin the healing journey.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Feed the Children Inc (Oklahoma City, OK), EIN 73-6108657. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.