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Wyoming Childrens Law Center

EIN 27-0317225 · Laramie, WY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Promote and provide legal services that protect and enhance the legal rights and entitlements of children and vulnerable adults in Wyoming, prevent unnecessary institutionalization or placements and improve the safety and wellbeing of youth and their educational outcomes through direct legal services and policy advocacy.

Income
$429,720
Spending
$346,584
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
5.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 54%
Employees
8
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$121,500, executive director

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

Financial health

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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 (4)
  1. $134,814 spent. Free Legal Services Program: Provide free legal services to low-income clients who qualified at 200% of poverty or less. Legal services are offered to clients across the state of Wyoming. The legal issues must involve a child or vulnerable adult's health, safety, education or general welfare. Center cases include special education law, school discipline, guardianships, custody disputes, juvenile court proceedings and involuntary commitments. This program is funded by grants from Equal Justice of Wyoming, a program supervised by the Wyoming Supreme Court and the Equal Justice Wyoming Foundation, which manages and provides grants from the State's IOLTA program to provide legal assistance to low-income citizens of the State.
  2. $108,827 spent. Family Tree Program: Provides free mediation, parent education, and supervised visitation and exchange services for parents involved in custody disputes. The Center provides these services to parents to help address and resolve disputes that often impacts their children's health, safety and wellbeing and to help families avoid formal legal processes whenever possible. Services are funded through a grant from the Wyoming Department of Family Services Child Support Division, which in turn is funded by a federal Access and Visitation grant. Center reserve funds were used to cover the required ten percent match until October of 2019, when the Community Foundation provided a grant to cover match requirements.
  3. $95,653 spent. Sliding Fee Legal Services Program for Modest Means Clients: The Center provides reduced fee legal services to modest means clients who do not qualify for free legal services when their legal service need involves issues related to a child or vulnerable adult's health, safety, education or wellbeing. Cases include special education law, school discipline, guardianships, custody disputes, juvenile court proceedings and involuntary commitments. This program is funded primarily by the fees collected from clients with supplemental help from donations and general grants and reserve funds generated by fee recoupments.
  4. Advocacy work: Juvenile Justice Reform Project, the Center formed the Wyoming Youth Justice Coalition to build grass root support for reforming Wyoming's Juvenile Justice System. The primary focus was the elimination of juvenile fees and fines during 2022. Work includes building partnerships with knowledgeable professionals and developing educational materials to inform stakeholders and the public of specific problem areas that will be the priority for reforming during each year.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 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 October 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.