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Childrens Investment Fund Inc

EIN 04-3105358 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE CHILDREN'S INVESTMENT FUND'S (CIF) PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF AND EXPAND ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE PROGRAMS FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES. IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE IMPACT OF ITS WORK CIF ALSO SEEKS TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH PLACE-BASED TWO-GENERATION AND OTHER STRATEGIES THAT RESULT IN SAFER, HEALTHIER AND MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH TO RAISE YOUNG CHILDREN.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
14.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
0
Volunteers
16

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • 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 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. $383,470 spent. EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME (EEOST) CAPITAL FUND AND EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROVIDER CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAM (EECPCG): THE EEOST PROGRAM WAS FIRST AUTHORIZED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE AS PART OF THE 2013 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL BOND BILL. IN MAY 2018, EEOST WAS REAUTHORIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE AS PART OF THE HOUSING CAPITAL BOND BILL. EACH OF THOSE BOND BILLS AUTHORIZED THE ISSUANCE OF UP TO $45 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. IN AUGUST 2024, THE LEGISLATURE REAUTHORIZED THE PROGRAM FOR UP TO $50 MILLION, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE. THE PURPOSE OF EEOST IS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL GRANTS TO LICENSED CENTER-BASED NONPROFIT EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS TO FUND FACILITY ACQUISITION, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND/OR RENOVATION. EECPCG IS DESIGNATED FOR FOR-PROFIT CENTERS TO DEVELOP AND/OR REHABILITATE ELIGIBLE FACILITIES IN WHICH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SLOTS ARE RESERVED TO SERVE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. CIF, UNDER CONTRACT WITH CEDAC, UNDERWRITES, CLOSES AND DISBURSES THE GRANT FUNDS AWARDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE (EEC). AS OF JUNE 30, 2025, $62.4 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SINCE 2013 UNDER THE EEOST AND EECPCG PROGRAMS.
  2. $475,819 spent. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND LENDING: CIF PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF FINANCING, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL SERVICES OPTIONS FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROVIDERS SEEKING TO CONSTRUCT OR IMPROVE THEIR FACILITIES. CIF'S SIGNATURE TRAINING, THE BUILDING STRONGER CENTERS INSTITUTE, IS A FOUR-DAY, INTENSIVE TRAINING DESIGNED FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS THAT ARE PLANNING A MAJOR RENOVATION OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. CONTENT INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, FINANCING STRATEGIES, HIGH-QUALITY DESIGN, AND EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND TRAINING, CIF OFFERS PREDEVELOPMENT, SITE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION LOANS, AND TERM LOANS TO HELP FINANCE THE COST OF DEVELOPING LARGER CAPITAL PROJECTS, LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, AND EQUIPMENT ON FLEXIBLE LOAN TERMS THAT MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDCARE PROVIDERS OF ALL SIZES. IN 2018, CIF EXTENDED THIS SUPPORT TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS THAT ARE CREATING FAMILY UNITS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
  3. $1.2 million spent. FACILITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS: CIF RAISES CAPITAL THAT CAN BE USED FOR GRANTS TO PROVIDERS TO FUND THE COST OF FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS. CIF HAS RECEIVED TOTAL FUNDING OF $2 MILLION FROM THE LIBERTY MUTUAL FOUNDATION TO FUND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN BOSTON-BASED EARLY EDUCATION AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME CENTERS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, CIF RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S CDFI FUND FOR $986,991 UNDER THE EQUITABLE RECOVERY PROGRAM (ERP). CIF IS USING THESE FUNDS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL GRANTS TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS LOCATED IN LOW OR MODERATE-INCOME MAJORITY MINORITY CENSUS TRACTS IN MASSACHUSETTS. CIF HAS AWARDED $960,000 OF THE ERP GRANTS TO FIVE PROVIDERS AS OF JUNE 30, 2025.

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 March 2019.

    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.