Childrens Law Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO INDIGENT CHILDREN IN CONTESTED CUSTODY/ VISITATION AND RELATED CASES.
- Income
- $11.0 million
- Spending
- $11.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -0.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 84
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $247,960, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 103% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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)
- $9.5 million spent. THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER (CLC) IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY LEGAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT THE TRIAL AND APPELLATE LEVEL FOR CHILDEN INVOLVED IN THE NEW YORK FAMILY COURTS. CLC IS FOCUSED ON ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING COMPLEX CUSTODY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH OR OTHER ISSUES LEADING TO FAMILY COURT INVOLVEMENT. OUR DEDICATED SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO PROMOTE CHILD-WELLBEING AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF BOTH FAMILY DISSOLUTION AND COURT INVOLVEMENT. CLC ENHANCES YOUTH EMPOWERMENT BY PROVIDING ZEALOUS ADVOCACY FOR CHILDRENS RIGHTS AND PROMOTES SYSTEM REFORM THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY WORK. CLC LAUNCHED THE CHILDRENS VOICE PROJECT, THE ONLY YOUTH BOARD IN NEW YORK DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A VOICE FOR SUBJECT CHILDREN IN CUSTODY, VISITATION, GUARDIANSHIP AND ORDER OF PROTECTION PROCEEDINGS. CLC TRACKS WEEKLY INTAKE AND CASE VOLUME DATA. EACH BOROUGH AND JURIST MAINTAINS A MIXTURE OF VIRTUAL, HYBRID AND IN-PERSON PROCEEDINGS. IN FY24-25, CLC APPEARED ON MORE THAN 8,000 INTAKE PETITONS ON BEHALF OF MORE THAN 4700 CHILDREN. CLC ALSO FILLED MORE THAN 40 APPEAL BRIEFS AND SECURED OUTCOMES THAT WERE CONSISTENT WITH OUR CLIENTS WISHES IN MORE THAN 75% OF OUR CASES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.