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Casa for Children of Essex County Inc

EIN 22-2745450 · Newark, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RECRUIT, TRAIN AND SUPERVISE VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES. CASA VOLUNTEERS ENSURE CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS REMAIN THE PRIORITY AND THEIR NEEDS MET WHILE WORKING TO ESTABLISH A SAFE, STABLE AND PERMANENT HOME.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 50%
Employees
16
Volunteers
158
Highest pay
$111,729, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 June 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 (1)
  1. $1.0 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES ALL 22 MUNICIPALITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY, ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 21 REMOVED FROM HOME DUE TO ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT AND PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES OR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. AFTER COMPLETION OF A RIGOROUS 30-HOUR CURRICULUM, CASA VOLUNTEERS ARE SWORN IN BY A FAMILY JUDGE AND NAMED TO A CASE BY COURT ORDER. IN ADDITION TO FORMING A CONSISTENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILD, CASA VOLUNTEERS GATHER INSIGHT FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, AND FOSTER FAMILIES TO ADVOCATE FOR INFORMED DECISIONS THAT SUPPORT THE CHILDS SAFETY, STABILITY, AND LONG-TERM SUCCESS.DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, CASA FOR CHILDREN OF ESSEX COUNTY STRENGTHENED ITS ADVOCACY AND SERVICE MODEL FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WHILE MARKING THE ORGANIZATIONS 40TH ANNIVERSARYAN IMPORTANT MILESTONE REFLECTING FOUR DECADES OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND CHILD-CENTERED ADVOCACY.OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 332 CHILDREN AND UTILIZED THE SERVICE OF 155 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED 10,819 HOURS OF TIME TO FULFILL THE MISSION. PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PRESENTED HERE DO NOT INCLUDE $400,002 IN DONATED VOLUNTEER SERVICES, AN ESTIMATE BASED ON NEW JERSEYS VOLUNTEER HOURLY VALUE AS DETERMINED BY INDEPENDENT SECTOR, WHICH CALCULATES THE VALUE OF A VOLUNTEER HOUR AT $36.97.A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE YEAR WAS THE CONTINUED INTEGRATION OF TRAUMA-INFORMED ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT CASA ESSEXS VOLUNTEER AND STAFF TRAINING FRAMEWORK. BY EQUIPPING ADVOCATES WITH DEEPER KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING, CASA ESSEX STRENGTHENED THE QUALITY OF ADVOCACY PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. THIS APPROACH SUPPORTS MORE INDIVIDUALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT, PROMOTES STABILITY IN PLACEMENTS AND SERVICES, AND ENSURES THAT THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF YOUTH ARE MEANINGFULLY REFLECTED IN DECISION-MAKING.CASA ESSEX ALSO ENHANCED ITS COMMITMENT TO DATA-INFORMED PROGRAM MANAGEMENT BY REFINING OUTCOME TRACKING AND CASE DATA SYSTEMS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATIONS ABILITY TO MEASURE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, MONITOR YOUTH OUTCOMES, AND PROVIDE ADVOCATES AND STAFF WITH TIMELY INFORMATION THAT SUPPORTS EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY AND COORDINATED SERVICE DELIVERY.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, CASA ESSEX CONTINUED TO WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ESSEX COUNTY JUDICIARY, THE NEW JERSEY CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, AND A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THESE COLLABORATIONS HELP ENSURE THAT YOUTH SERVED THROUGH CASA RECEIVE COORDINATED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL, HEALTH, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WHILE ALSO STRENGTHENING SYSTEM-LEVEL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.AS CASA ESSEX COMMEMORATES ITS 40TH YEAR OF SERVICE, THE ORGANIZATION REMAINS FOCUSED ON SUSTAINING AND EXPANDING HIGH-QUALITY ADVOCACY SO THAT EVERY CHILD IN FOSTER CARE HAS A TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE DEDICATED TO ENSURING THEIR SAFETY, STABILITY, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 January 1988.

    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.