Corporate Alliance for Drug Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ORGANIZATION'S MISSION: THE MISSION OF CADEKIDS IS TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, SCHOOL-BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEGUN AT AN EARLY AGE AND ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CHOICES, WHILE REDUCING HIGH RISK BEHAVIORS.
- Income
- $1.6 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 82%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $102,258, executive director
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.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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.
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 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)
- $967,446 spent. CADEKIDS IS A PREVENTION EDUCATION AND STUDENT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION. CADEKIDS OPERATES 3 CORE PROGRAMS CLASSROOM PREVENTION EDUCATION, A STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP), AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS.IN CADEKIDS CLASSROOM PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM, CADEKIDS' PREVENTION SPECIALISTS EQUIP K-8TH GRADE STUDENTS WITH SKILLS TO HANDLE CONFLICT THE SMART WAY AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO STOP AND EVALUATE SITUATIONS, EXERCISE IMPULSE CONTROL, AND STEER CLEAR OF VIOLENCE, ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE USE, AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIORS. WITH 5,000-6,000 PARTICIPANTS SERVED PER YEAR, CADEKIDS' PREVENTION SPECIALISTS DELIVER EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULA (AGE-/CONTENT-APPROPRIATE) TO PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WHOLE CLASSROOMS WITH THE TEACHER PRESENT.THE SAP IS DESIGNED TO ASSESS STUDENTS (GRADES K-12) FOR CONCERNS RELATED TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL MISUSE, EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION, AND BEHAVIORAL/MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE 4 PHASES OF THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ARE REFERRAL, SCREENING/ASSESSMENT, INTERVENTION/ RECOMMENDATION, AND AFTERCARE. SAP IS NOT A TREATMENT PROGRAM; RATHER, IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM USING TRAINED PERSONNEL, AND EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION/RECOMMENDATION TO REFER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. CADEKIDS SAP PROVIDED 256 STUDENTS WITH TARGETED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR. IN FY25 THE SAP PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDED SOME TARGETED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.BEGINNING IN FY23, CADEKIDS EXPANDED ITS PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS REACHING STUDENTS IN THE CRUCIAL OUT OF SCHOOL TIME. CADEKIDS COLLABORATED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE FUN-INFUSED PREVENTION EDUCATION LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS WHO LIVE AND/OR ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE KENSINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD, ONE OF THE HIGHEST OVERDOSE COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY. IN FY25, THIS ALSO INCLUDED AND ART-INTEGRATED SATURDAY PROGRAM THAT RAN FOR 12 WEEKS.IMPACT STATEMENT:CADEKIDS TEACHES AND MENTORS PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO STREGTHEN THEIR RESILIENCY SKILLS AND EMPOWER THEM TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. FOUNDED IN 1987, CADEKIDS IS A PENNSYLVANIA-REGISTERED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS K-12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCEED.CADEKIDS' CLASSROOM EDUCATION PROGRAM HELPS K-8TH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS MAKE GOOD DECISIONS BY EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL SKILL NEEDED TO AVOID HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS. IN 2024-2025 THE FOLLOWING NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVED EACH PROGRAM:- 4,189 STUDENTS RECEIVED PREVENTION EDUCATION SERVICES- 1,187 STUDENTS RECEIVED A CORE GAMBLING PREVENTION PROGRAM- 858 STUDENTS RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL GAMBLING AWARENESS PROGRAM ADDRESSING GAMING AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE.- 45 STUDENTS RECEIVED THE SMALL GROUP PROGRAM TARGETING TO STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL NEEDS (GIRLS CIRCLE AND THE COUNCIL FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN).- 49 STUDENTS RECEIVED OUT OF SCHOOL TIME SERVICES- CADEKIDS FOCUSES ON ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA'S MOST-STRESSED ZIP CODES, WHICH HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF SHOOTINGS, OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT CAN IMPACT LONG-TERM WELL-BEINGOUR BEST-PRACTICE MODEL HELPS STUDENTS RECOGNIZE THEIR EMOTIONS TO AVOID SELF-DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICT. DEDICATED PREVENTION SPECIALISTS MAINTAIN A YEAR-LONG PRESENCE IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND STAYING ON TRACK FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. CADEKIDS HAS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS. IN AN AUGUST 2010 STUDY OF 6,200 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND 7,900 CONTROL GROUP STUDENTS, KATHERINE MEYERS FOUND "REMARKABLE" FY09 RESULTS FOR CADEKIDS' STUDENTS, CONCENTRATED IN PHILADELPHIA'S LOWEST-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. MIDDLE (MS) AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (ES) STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN CADEKIDS WERE: -SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FRIENDS WHO DID NOT USE DRUGS (MS, 72%; ES, 74%), ALCOHOL (MS, 68%; ES, 81%), OR CIGARETTES (MS, 70%; ES, 71%), AFTER PARTICIPATING.-SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED APPROVAL OF HITTING BACK (MS, 59%; ES, 63%) PUSHING OTHERS AROUND (MS, 58%; ES, 32%), AND SAYING MEAN THINGS (MS, 59%; ES, 22%).- PARTICIPANT SCHOOL ATTENDANCE RATES EXCEED THOSE OF THE CONTROL GROUP. ADDITIONALLY, GROUPS AT DISPROPORTIONATE RISK OF ACADEMIC FAILURE -SUCH AS BLACKS, LATINOS, ASIANS, AND THOSE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY-- IMPROVED MATH SCORES AT A GREATER RATE THAN THOSE SIMILARLY LIMITED WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN CADEKIDS, AND INCREASED THEIR READING ACHIEVEMENT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE IF THEY PARTICIPATED. - PARTICIPANTS GAVE OUR PROGRAM HIGH MARKS (AVERAGE, 82%), WOULD RECOMMEND CADEKIDS TO OTHER STUDENTS, AND FEEL THAT CADEKIDS TAUGHT THEM HOW TO AVOID FIGHTING AND VIOLENCE ABOUT SETTING GOALS FOR THE FUTURE.IN 2024-2025, AN IMPRESSIVE 100% OF TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS RATED CADEKIDS' CLASSROOM EFFECTIVENESS AS EXCELLENT OR GOOD. 88% OF TEACHERS NOTED SPECIFIC BEHAVIOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM DURING THE PROGRAM. CADEKIDS STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDED ASSESSMENTS OR SCREENERS FOR 256 STUDENTS WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS IN AND AROUND SCHOOL. CAREGIVERS OF THESE STUDENTS WERE PROVIDED COMMUNITY BASED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVICES AND OFFERED CADEKIDS CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HELP ALLEVIATE BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT IN SERVICES.CADEKIDS OUT OF SCHOOL TIME INITIATIVE LAUNCHED WITH A SPRING AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM AT A COMMUNITY CENTER IN KENSINGTON IN 2023. PRE AND POST SURVEY DATA INDICATED IMPROVEMENTS IN STUDENTS' POSITIVE FUTURE OUTLOOK, SELF-ESTEEM AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. A LIBRARY SERIES AND SUMMER CAMP WERE ALSO OFFERED IN SUMMER OF 2023. WE CONTINUE TO GET POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR OUT OF SCHOOL TIME INITIATIVES.CADEKIDS TRUE IMPACT IS FOUND IN IMMEASURABLE MOMENTS- WHEN A STUDENT USES A REFUSAL STRATEGY INSTEAD OF TRYING DRUGS OR WHEN A STUDENT APPLIES A COPING MECHANISM FOR STRESS BEFORE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1987.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.