The Childrens Collective Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CHILDREN'S COLLECTIVE INC.'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OUTCOMES FOR LOW INCOME, MINORITY CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, COMPREHENSIVE SEAMLESS SERVICES IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY SUPPORT, AND HEALTH.
- Income
- $14.7 million
- Spending
- $14.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 123
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $349,811, past 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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 87% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 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 (4)
- $7.4 million spent. THE CALIFORNIA STATE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDED FULL AND PART-DAY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TO 469 CHILDREN FROM 3 TO 5 YEARS OF AGE. SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR 240 DAYS. THESE SERVICES ALLOWED LOW-INCOME WORKING PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT WHILE CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN A SECURE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED RESPITE TO VERY LOW-INCOME OVERBURDENED FAMILIES.
- $1.8 million spent. GENERAL CHILD CARE PROVIDED FULL-DAY DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES TO 60 INFANTS AND 59 TODDLERS FROM TWO TO THIRTY-SIX MONTHS FOR 240 DAYS. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWED LOW-INCOME PARENTS TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS OBTAIN JOB TRAINING, WHILE THEIR CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN SECURE, NURTURING CHILDCARE ENVIRONMENTS. THE CHILDREN RECEIVED AGE-APPROPRIATE EARLY EDUCATION IN COGNITIVE, LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN WERE FED TWO NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND A SNACK DAILY, AND AS NEEDED, PROVIDED WITH EARLY THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION.
- $1.5 million spent. FAMILYSOURCE CENTER PROVIDES A CONTINUUM OF CORE SERVICES TO INCREASE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, INCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY; INCOME TAX PREPARATION; EMERGENCY FOOD AND CLOTHING; INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES INCLUDING BANKING AND UTILITY BILL PAYMENTS, AS WELL AS HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, RECREATION, AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE FSC PROGRAM SERVED 3,459 CLIENTS, INCREASED FAMILY INCOME BY $674,864 AND HELPED 95 YOUTH OBTAIN AN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OUTCOME
- $2.1 million spent. CAL FRESHBLACK INFANT HEALTHFOOD PROGRAMLAUPERAPEARLY HEAD START
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 1976.
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.