Childrens Agenda Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Children's Agenda advocates for effective policies and drives evidence-based solutions for the health, education and success of children. We are especially committed to children who are vulnerable because of poverty, racism, health disparities and trauma.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 67%
- Reserves
- 5.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 18
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $156,377, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1567% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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 December 31, 2024, 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)
- $1.2 million spent. The Children's Agenda improves the health, education, and success of children by advocating for effective, equitable policies, especially for families most impacted by poverty, racism, health inequities and trauma. Many communities have programs to help children and families through direct services. To make lasting change, we need to address the root causes of why children and families need services in the first place, and to improve all children's lives, especially the most vulnerable. That's were The Children's Agenda comes in.(Continued on Schedule O)We work across systems, from local neighborhoods to the state capitol, and apply our strengths in policy-driven research, effective organization, and impactful advocacy to improving children's lives and futures. This approach has yielded many wins for children, including: NYS Paid Family Leave Signed into law, supporting 117,851 families for newborn and infant care by 2022; NYS Child Poverty Reduction Act signed into law in 2021, impacting the futures of 895,000 children; 993,700 children included in the Empire State Child Credit, and the first Early Intervention rate increase in decades, benefiting 65,000 children annually; NY becoming 4th state in nation to provide continuous Medicaid coverage for children birth-6, covering 66,000 additional children per year and 50% of all births in NY. At the local level, our Very Invested Parents (VIP) group harness their lived experiences to drive the advocacy for key agenda areas and systemic reforms, especially with the Rochester City School District in areas like school-based health centers with on-site mental health counseling and restorative practices to improve school climate.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.