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Casa for Children of the District of Columbia

EIN 03-0472883 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Court appointed special advocates of DC (CASA DC) promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused and neglected child in the DC foster care or juvenile justice system can be safe, establish permanence and have the opportunity to thrive.(Schedule O)CASA DC recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers who regularly visit with children and their families, gather information, and advocate for the children's best interests in court. CASA DC provides a "voice in court" of child victims of abuse and neglect.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 92%
Employees
21
Volunteers
194
Highest pay
$32,643, interim executive director

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $1.1 million spent. CASA DC serves any child in foster care with some specialty services for targeted populations:(1) Bridges Program (Previously the JBDP/Pins Program)Through the Bridges Program CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to work with court-involved youth who has past or current exposure to the juvenile justice system. Advocates receive additional training on juvenile justice, and work with youg people to support them through their journey in both the foster care system and juvenile justice.(See Schedule O) (2) Family Treatment Court (FTC) Program DC's family treatment court (FTC) focuses on reunifying families who have experienced neglect due to substance abuse. The voluntary intensive program takes a holistic approach, focusing not only on sobriety but strengthening the family as a whole for a successful future. (3) Preparing Youth for Adulthood (PYA) Program The Preparing Youth for Adulthood (PYA) Initiative was established in 2007 to better address the needs of youth transitioning from foster care into adulthood. The PYA program is focused on building necessary life skills and empowering youth to be self-sufficient and prepared for adulthood by their 21st Birthday. (4) Empower Program The empower program provides CASA volunteers to court-involved youth in DC who are suspected or confirmed survivors of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and other forms of sexual violence. Empower's CASA volunteers receive extensive and specialized training in human trafficking and sex crimes to prepare them in providing high-quality advocacy on these cases. (5) Multicultural Advocacy Program (MAP) The Multicultural Advocacy Program (MAP) focuses on providing effective and focused advocacy tailored to the unique needs to immigrant-origin youth, unaccompanied refugee minors, and culturally diverse youth.

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

  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 September 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 January 2003.

    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.

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.