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Child Welfare League of America Inc

EIN 13-1641066 · Washington, DC

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ENGAGES ITS NETWORK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND PARTNERS TO ADVANCE POLICIES, BEST PRACTICES, AND COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES THAT RESULT IN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR Vulnerable CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
66%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 72%
Employees
17
Volunteers
60
Highest pay
$182,409, president & ceo

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    66% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (3)
  1. $918,225 spent. EDUCATION AND NATIONAL ADVOCACY: CWLA IS THE NATION'S LEADING VOICE FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR VULNERABLE. CWLA ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS. CWLA WORKS WITH ITS MEMBERS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER ADVOCATES AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES SO THAT CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES CAN FLOURISH. A KEY ASPECT OF CWLA'S WORK IS COLLABORATING WITH MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH GUIDELINES IN BEST PRACTICES FOR CHILD WELFARE SERVICES THROUGH CWLA'S STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE. CWLA BRINGS ITS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE DIRECTLY TO AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ITS ADVOCACY, PROGRAMS, PUBLICATIONS, TRAINING, CONFERENCES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
  2. $845,895 spent. CONSULTATION: CWLA BRINGS ITS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH ITS FORMAL AND INFORMAL CONSULTATION. THIS INCLUDES AGENCY ASSESSMENTS, POLICY REVIEWS AND ANALYSIS, ASSISTANCE WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING, CRITICAL INCIDENT REVIEWS, AND PROGRAM CONSULTATION FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES AND FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATURES BASED ON BEST PRACTICE STANDARDS.
  3. RESEARCH: CWLA COLLECTS AND ANALYZES BEST PRACTICES AND TREND DATA ON MULTIPLE ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE FIELD OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES. CWLA ALSO DISSEMINATES INFORMATION TO ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CONFERENCES TO ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1977.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Caution.

    California's Attorney General lists its registration as delinquent as of September 30, 2005. Organizations on this list may not solicit donations in California.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 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.