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Kids First Law Center

EIN 20-2199649 · Cedar Rapids, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KIDS FIRST GIVES CHILDREN A VOICE IN DIVORCE, CUSTODY, AND OTHER CONFLICTS BY PROVIDING FOCUSED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND SERVICES FOR KIDS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
20.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
23
Volunteers
56
Highest pay
$79,415, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 32% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $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

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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, 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 (4)
  1. $291,296 spent. LEGAL REPRESENTATION - KIDS FIRST HAS A MISSION TO PROVIDE FREE AND REDUCED-COST REPRESENTATION TO CHILDREN IN HIGH-CONFLICT DIVORCE AND CUSTODY CASES. KIDS FIRST ATTORNEYS MEET REGULARLY WITH THE CHILD CLIENT, CONSULT WITH THE CHILD'S TEACHERS, LINK FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, COLLABORATE WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS COUNSELORS, FACILITATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY THE PARENTS, AND ADVOCATE THE CHILD'S POSITION IN COURT. BY LESSENING AND RESOLVING CONFLICT IN FAMILIES, KIDS FIRST MITIGATES LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPACTS AND HELPS KIDS TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD SUCCESSFULLY. IN 2024, KIDS FIRST PROVIDED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 128 CHILDREN IN HIGH-CONFLICT CUSTODY CASES.
  2. $518,199 spent. YOUTH PEACE PROJECT (YPP) - YPP USES RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE. PEACE FACILITATORS ARE STATIONED IN CEDAR RAPIDS SCHOOLS AND MEET WITH THOSE INVOLVED IN A CONFLICT INDIVIDUALLY AND THEN TOGETHER IN A RESTORATIVE CIRCLE (MEDIATION). STUDENTS REFLECT ON WHAT HAPPENED, DECIDE TOGETHER HOW THE HARM SHOULD BE REPAIRED, AND ARE GIVEN TOOLS TO HANDLE SIMILAR SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE. INSTEAD OF BEING SUSPENDED, STUDENTS RETURN TO LEARNING QUICKLY. YOUTH BUILD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND ENGAGE IN LESS FIGHTING, RESULTING IN A SAFER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. YPP MAKES IT MORE LIKELY STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND BECOME CONTRIBUTING ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN 2024, YPP PROVIDED RESTORATIVE CIRCLES TO 2,498 UNDUPLICATED STUDENTS.
  3. $30,486 spent. EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS - KIDS FIRST OFFERS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS TO SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN OF DIVORCING PARENTS IN LINN AND JOHNSON COUNTIES. KIDS FIRST DESIGNED ITS WORKSHOPS TO HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH THEIR PARENTS' DIVORCE. THE WORKSHOPS GROUP TOGETHER KIDS BY GRADE LEVEL AND PROVIDE A SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL PLACE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS. THE WORKSHOPS ARE INTERACTIVE AND UTILIZE ARTWORK, GAMES, VIDEOS, DISCUSSIONS, AND ROLEPLAYING. THE GOALS ARE TO LET CHILDREN KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THE DIVORCE IS NOT THEIR FAULT, TEACH PRACTICAL SKILLS TO HANDLE COMMON DIVORCE SCENARIOS AND ADJUST TO FAMILY CHANGES, AND CLARIFY MISCONCEPTIONS AND SET AGE-APPROPRIATE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LEGAL PROCESS. IN 2024, 415 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BENEFITED FROM KIDS FIRST DIVORCE WORKSHOPS.
  4. $95,419 spent. MEDIATIONS AND NEUTRAL EXCHANGES - KIDS FIRST PROVIDES MEDIATION AND NEUTRAL EXCHANGE SERVICES FOR ANY SEPARATED AND DIVORCED PARENTS WITH MINOR CHILDREN. SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST. KIDS FIRST GUIDES CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PARENTS ABOUT CHILD-RELATED TOPICS. PARENTS LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, AND RESOLVE PARENTING DISPUTES. PARENTS CAN ALSO EXCHANGE THEIR CHILDREN PEACEFULLY IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THROUGH KIDS FIRST'S NEUTRAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM. IN 2024, KIDS FIRST PROVIDED NEUTRAL EXCHANGES TO 6 PARENTS, MEDIATION SESSIONS TO 242 PARENTS, AND VISITATION COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 453 PARENTS.

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

  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 December 2024.

    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 March 2005.

    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.