Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Christian Alliance for Orphans

EIN 26-1492375 · Mclean, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) exists to unite an alliance in shared initiatives that inspire and equip God's people to care effectively for vulnerable children and families, rooted always in Christian discipleship and the life of the local church.

Income
$428,341
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
42.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
37
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$85,846, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 42.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 174% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 91% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 March 31, 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 (3)
  1. $830,135 spent. Advocacy and Education - Central to CAFO's work is to inspire and equip "champions" for well-informed, highly effective service to orphans, foster youth, and other vulnerable children and families, both across the U.S. and worldwide. These champions include adoptive and foster parents, advocates, social workers, pastors and church staff, volunteers, national leaders in developing nations, and leaders and staff of child-serving organizations. This work takes shape especially through focused initiatives that unite an expansive range of organizations, churches, and individuals in coordinated action for profound collective impact. These include CAFO Global Networks, the More than Enough initiative, the Pure Religion Project (building on the legacy of Orphan Sunday and Stand Sunday),the National Church Ministry Initiative, the Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families, the Aging Out Initiative, the Institute for Family Centered Healing & Health, the Development and Discipleship Initiative, and other targeted programs. This work also involves a wide range of communication efforts to build awareness and effective engagement, including three podcast series, regular interviews in both Christian and mainstream media, articles and opinion editorials, speaking and teaching at conferences and other events, the CAFO blog, CAFO's monthly newsletter and other e-information, strategic use of Facebook, Twitter and other social media, videos and other visual media products, phone and in-person meetings with thought leaders, pastors, advocates and other influencers, email and phone responses to a wide range of inquiries, an expansive website, monthly training webinars, and much more. All of these efforts work towards three primary goals: 1) To see more than enough well-supported homes for every child in US foster care, including foster and kinship, adoptive, and restored biological families; and 2) To see Christians and Christian organizations known across the field of OVC care not only for great love, but also for excellence and innovation; 3) To see the local church in every nation rise as the primary answer for the orphans and vulnerable children of that place.
  2. $70,204 spent. Summit Conference - The annual CAFO Summit has become the hub for the field of Christian service to orphans and vulnerable children worldwide, from US foster care to programs serving children and families worldwide.At the CAFO 2024 Summit, more than 2,000 church leaders, orphan advocates, adoptive and foster parents, veterans of global ministry, and local/national leaders from around the world gathered for training, connection, and inspiration for well-informed, highly-effective ministry.
  3. $78,587 spent. Global Networks - CAFO Global Networks and the Global Movements Initiative (GMI) invests in emerging leaders worldwide, providing technical support, leadership, training, and more. GMI draws from the resources of the entire CAFO community to serve the church in majority world/developing countries, working toward the day when the local church in every nation is known as the primary answer for the deep needs of orphans and vulnerable children in their midst.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 April 2009.

    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 November 4, 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.