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Child Trends Incorporated

EIN 13-2982969 · Rockville, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILD TRENDS, INC. (CHILD TRENDS) IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BY CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND PROVIDING SCIENCE-BASED INFORMATION TO IMPROVE THE DECISIONS, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN ADVANCING ITS MISSION, CHILD TRENDS COLLECTS AND ANALYZES DATA; CONDUCTS, SYNTHESIZES, AND DISSEMINATES RESEARCH; DESIGNS AND EVALUATES PROGRAMS; AND DEVELOPS AND TESTS PROMISING APPROACHES TO RESEARCH IN THE FIELD.

Income
$43.1 million
Spending
$44.6 million
Spent on programs
70%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
270
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$431,839, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% 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 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    70% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • 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 December 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 (8)
  1. $13.9 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT - THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT CHILD TRENDS PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO IMPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, EDUCATION, AND SYSTEMS.
  2. $5.1 million spent. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH - THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROGRAM AT CHILD TRENDS PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO FURTHER PREVENTION OF PREGNANCY AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND DISEASES AMONG ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS.
  3. $3.1 million spent. CHILD WELFARE - THE CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM AT CHILD TRENDS PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, INCLUDING THOSE SERVED BY FACILITIES, KINSHIP CARE, AND IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS.
  4. $2.3 million spent. EDUCATION RESEARCH - CHILD TRENDS EDUCATION RESEARCH PROGRAM PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND WELL-BEING IN EDUCATIONAL CONTEXTS.
  5. $2.2 million spent. POPULATION-FOCUSED RESEARCH - CHILD TRENDS' POPULATION-FOCUSED RESEARCH PROGRAM ADVANCES RESEARCH ON HISPANIC, INDIGENOUS, AND BLACK CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES.
  6. $1.8 million spent. PARENTING & FAMILY DYNAMICS - CHILD TRENDS PARENTING & FAMILY DYNAMICS PROGRAM PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
  7. $1.8 million spent. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT - THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT CHILD TRENDS PROVIDES RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRACTITIONERS AND POLICYMAKERS TO IMPROVE YOUTH-SERVING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME CARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS, AND CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS AND TO INFORM THE BROADER PUBLIC ON POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
  8. $1.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS:CLIENT COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & DATA SCIENCECHILD TRENDS' COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS PROVIDE STRATEGIC DISSEMINATION SUPPORT TO PARTNERS AND CLIENTS TO ADVANCE RESEARCH ON CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 May 1979.

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