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Court Appointed Special Advocates of Morris and Sussex Counties Inc

EIN 22-3123157 · Cedar Knolls, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong95 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES OR ARE UNDER COURT SUPERVISION DUE TO ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR ABANDONMENT. WE RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND SUPERVISE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO BE ADVOCATES, MENTORS, AND CHAMPIONS FOR EACH CHILD ON HIS OR HER JOURNEY TO A SAFE, PERMANENT, AND NURTURING HOME.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
33.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
16
Volunteers
113
Highest pay
$202,497, 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 33.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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. $761,694 spent. CASA IS THE ONLY COURT-AUTHORIZED ADVOCACYY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IN MORRIS AND SUSSEX COUNTIES. WE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO BRING CHILDREN BETTER TOMORROWS:CHILD ADVOCACY:IN THIS CORE PROGRAM, CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND ABANDONMENT, AND LIVING IN FOSTER HOMES, OR RESIDENTIAL CENTERS ARE ASSIGNED TO TRAINED VOLUNTEERS FOR ADVOCACY IN THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM. THE COLUNTEER ADVOCATES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN GATHERING INFORMATION ON EACH CHILD, ORGANIZING IT FOR THE COURT, AND MAKING INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT ON THE NEXT STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES. THE VOLUNTEERS WORK TO PROVIDE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR EACH CHILD WITH EDUCATIONAL, MEDICALM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORTS, RESOURCES, AND SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT EACH CHIL IS IN A SAFE, NURTURING, AND PERMANENT HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THROUGHOUT EACH CASE, VOLUNTEERS ARE SUPERVISED BY CASA STAFF.VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING:THIS PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A STEADY STREAM OF COMMITTED CITIZENS FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO ACT AS ADVOCATES WITHIN THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS ATTEND INFORMATION SESSIONS TO HEAR ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, AND THE CASA MISSION. THE CANDIDATES CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWS, BACKGROUND CHECKS, VOLUNTEER SELECTION, 36 HOURS OF TRAINING, AND SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES THAT ARE PRESIDED OVER BY FAMILY COURT JUDGES. ONCE SWORIN, EACH TRAINEE IS APPROVED TO RECEIVE A CASE ASSIGNMENT.FOSTERING FUTURES (FF):THE FF PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO OFFER MENTORING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES WHILE EMPOWERING YOUTH, AGES 14 TO 21, TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES BEYOND THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. SINCE 2014 THIS HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PROGRAM WHERE SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEER MENTORS WORK WITH YOUTH TO INVESTIGATE THEIR NEEDS, IDENTIFY ASPIRATIONS, AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO ACHEIVE GOALS AND SKILLS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. EACH MENTOR IS SUPERVISED BY STAFF FF PROGRAM CASE SUPERVISORS FOR THE DURATION OF EACH CASE.

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 February 1992.

    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.