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Strategies for Children Inc

EIN 04-3551406 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2001, STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN (SFC) IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED POLICY ORGANIZATION THAT LEVERAGES ITS CORE STRENGTHS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING, CONSTITUENCY BUILDING AND PARTNERSHIPS, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, COMMUNICATIONS/OUTREACH, AND PRACTICE AT BOTH THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVELS TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS. SFC'S MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT MASSACHUSETTS INVESTS THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR ALL CHILDREN, FROM BIRTH TO AGE FIVE, TO ACCESS HIGH-QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$883,573
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
19.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$181,923, executive di

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 59% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 59% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 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 (1)
  1. $744,680 spent. SFC MADE NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND POLICY/ADVOCACY ADVANCES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - LED ADVOCACY FOR MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE'S FY26 BUDGET APPROPRIATION, A HISTORIC HIGH OF 1.68 BILLION (A 180 MILLION, 12% INCREASE OVER THE FY24 BUDGET TWO YEARS PRIOR. - MONITORED FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION PROPOSALS AND POLICY CHANGES AND RESPONDED STRATEGICALLY BY SHARING TIMELY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES WITH OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY. - GREW SFC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO 10 MEMBERS, INCLUDING 9 NEW MEMBERS SINCE 2024. - COMPLETED A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO GUIDE THE NEXT 3 YEARS OF OUR WORK. - LAUNCHED A NEW STRATEGISFORCHILDREN.ORG WEBSITE. - CELEBRATED 5 YEARS OF "THE 9:30 CALL." - LAUNCHED THE NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY PATHWAYS FELLOWSHIP. - CONTINUED HOSTING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENDA, EVOLVING ITS STRUCTURE FOR GREATER IMPACT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. - GRADUATED COHORT 4 OF OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD. SFC MADE NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND POLICY/ADVOCACY ADVANCES IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: - LED ADVOCACY FOR MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE'S FY26 BUDGET APPROPRIATION, A HISTORIC HIGH OF 1.68 BILLION (A 180 MILLION, 12% INCREASE OVER THE FY24 BUDGET TWO YEARS PRIOR. - MONITORED FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION PROPOSALS AND POLICY CHANGES AND RESPONDED STRATEGICALLY BY SHARING TIMELY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES WITH OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY. - GREW SFC'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO 10 MEMBERS, INCLUDING 9 NEW MEMBERS SINCE 2024. - COMPLETED A STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS TO GUIDE THE NEXT 3 YEARS OF OUR WORK. - LAUNCHED A NEW STRATEGISFORCHILDREN.ORG WEBSITE. - CELEBRATED 5 YEARS OF "THE 9:30 CALL." - LAUNCHED THE NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY PATHWAYS FELLOWSHIP. - CONTINUED HOSTING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENDA, EVOLVING ITS STRUCTURE FOR GREATER IMPACT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. - GRADUATED COHORT 4 OF OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD.

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 June 2001.

    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.