Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Childs Play

EIN 20-3584556 · Seattle, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 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'S PLAY SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND TEENS IN PEDIATRIC HOSPITALS AND OTHER CHILD WELFARE FACILITIES THROUGH THE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY OF THE GAMER COMMUNITY AND THE POWER OF PLAY.

Income
$4.2 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
45.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
6
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$151,890, senior director of philanthropy

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 88% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 45.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (3)
  1. $3.1 million spent. STARTED BY THE FOUNDERS OF PENNY ARCADE, INC., MIKE KRAHULIK AND JERRY HOLKINS IN 2003 UNITING THE GAMING COMMUNITY AND HIGHLIGHTING THE GOOD IN THE INDUSTRY WHEN GAMERS GIVE BACK! FOCUSING ON HELPING IMPROVE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, CHILD'S PLAY WORKS CLOSELY WITH CHILD LIFE DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO GAMING ROADBLOCKS AND SUPPORT THEIR HOSPITALS PROGRAM WITH IN-KIND AND CASH CONTRIBUTIONS. WE SUPPORT MORE THAN 190 HOSPITALS AND IMPACT MORE THAN 1 MILLION KIDS EACH YEAR.
  2. IN RECENT YEARS, CHILD'S PLAY HAS HEAVILY FOCUSED ON GAMING AND TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS. THESE POSITIONS INSIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS HAVE PROVEN TO ENHANCE THE PATIENTS EXPERIENCE WHILE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE AROUND GAMING. THESE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS PROMOTE IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS AUGMENTED AND VIRTUAL REALITY TO HELP PROVIDE DISTRACTION DURING PROCEDURES. THIS CAN HELP KIDS GET HOME SOONER AND HEAL QUICKER. CHILD'S PLAY HAS FUNDED 49 OF THESE POSITIONS TO DATE THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS AND CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL DONOR/SPONSOR SUPPORT TO GROW THIS PROGRAM. THESE GRANTS ALLOW THE HOSPITAL TO SUPPORT THIS NEW POSITION IN 2 TO 3 YEARS.
  3. WE KNOW NOT ALL CLINICIANS AND CARETAKERS IN AND OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL SETTING ARE GAMERS. WE WANT TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT AND SHOW THEM THE BENEFITS OF GAMING AND POWER OF PLAY. THAT'S WHY CHILD'S PLAY CREATED THE THERAPEUTIC VIDEO GAME GUIDE A TOOL TO RECOMMEND VIDEO GAMES FOR CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR SYMPTOMS. THE GAMES AE CURATED BY RESEARCHERS AT CIRCANA GROUP, L.P., A MARKET-LEADING VIDEO GAME RESEARCH FIRM, IN COLLABORATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCHERS AT UCSD. THIS GUIDE WAS DESIGNED AS A QUICK REFERENCE TO HELP CARETAKERS QUICKLY SELECT GAMES FOR THEIR PATIENTS.

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 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 November 2005.

    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.