Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking

EIN 27-0662292 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INFORM SOCIAL CHANGE THAT ELIMINATES HUMAN EXPLOITATION.

Income
$979,876
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 82%
Employees
12
Volunteers
86
Highest pay
$118,440, executive di

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

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

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (6)
  1. $372,130 spent. HOTLINE AND RESOURCE DIRECTORY: THIS PROGRAM'S GOAL IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING TRAFFICKING AND DEVELOP COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES ACROSS COLORADO AS THEY ADDRESS HUMAN EXPLOITATION. WE MANAGE THE 24/7 STATEWIDE COLORADO HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE AND TEXT LINE, STAFFED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WHO CONNECT CALLERS TO VETTED LOCAL SERVICES. LCHT ALSO MAINTAINS AN ONLINE RESOURCE DIRECTORY LISTING MORE THAN 250 SERVICE PROVIDERS. IN 2025, WE RESPONDED TO 951 CALLS AND TEXTS. ------------- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAIL -----------------
  2. $253,709 spent. TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM: LCHT TRAINS PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS COLORADO TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING USING TRAUMA-INFORMED, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE APPROACHES. IN 2025, LCHT DELIVERED 220 TRAINING SESSIONS, INCLUDING 15 IN SPANISH, REACHING 8,877 PEOPLE ACROSS 39 COLORADO COUNTIES. NINETY PERCENT OF SURVEYED PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THEY COULD DEFINE TRAFFICKING, IDENTIFY KEY INDICATORS, AND FELT CONFIDENT TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION. PRIMARY AUDIENCES INCLUDED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH SYSTEMS-INVOLVED YOUTH. -------------- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAIL ----------------
  3. $251,376 spent. COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH + ACTION PROGRAM: LCHT CONTRIBUTES DATA-DRIVEN, COMMUNITY-CENTERED RESEARCH TO THE ANTI- TRAFFICKING FIELD. IN 2025, LCHT CONDUCTED FOCUS GROUPS IN COLORADO ON ROOT CAUSES OF TRAFFICKING AMONG LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES AND EXPLORED RISK AND RESILIENCE FACTORS WITHIN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THIS WORK BUILDS ON THE COLORADO PROJECT 2023 REPORT, A STATEWIDE ANALYSIS THAT NOW GUIDES MULTI- SECTOR EFFORTS IN HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND CHILD WELFARE. -------------- SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAIL ----------------
  4. $115,201 spent. LCHT'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (LDP) PREPARES HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS AND SURVIVORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANTI-TRAFFICKING FIELD THROUGH TWO 10- WEEK SESSIONS ANNUALLY. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE 150 OR MORE HOURS OF HANDS-ON LEARNING ALONGSIDE LCHT STAFF. IN 2025, LCHT HIRED A DEDICATED LDP MANAGER WHO REDESIGNED CORE DOCUMENTATION, STRENGTHENED CURRICULUM, AND ADDED SEMINARS ON COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. ELEVEN INTERNS SUPPORTED LCHT PROGRAMS IN 2025, BRINGING THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL TO 219 SINCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2005. LCHT AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SIX PARTICIPANTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
  5. HOTLINE AND RESOURCE DIRECTORY, CONTINUED: WE ADDED 26 NEW AGENCIES TO THE RESOURCE DIRECTORY, AND ONBOARDED 56 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS TO ITS TIP DISTRIBUTIONS LIST ACROSS THE STATE THIS YEAR IN MULTIPLE URBAN, RURAL AND FRONTIER COUNTIES. LCHT ALSO HOSTED THREE EVENTS REACHING 144 PARTICIPANTS IN IMMIGRANT AND LIMITED-ENGLISH-PROFICIENT COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE. IN 2025, THE HOTLINE PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED BY 52 TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES AND 11 VOLUNTEER BACKUP MANAGERS, WITH 85% OF THE TEAM TAKING AT LEAST ONE SHIFT PER MONTH IN 2025. TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM, CONTINUED: YOUTH-FOCUSED TRAINING REACHED 829 EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF, 1,396 STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUP PARTICIPANTS, AND 1,103 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS 40 LOCATIONS. EVERY YOUTH SESSION RESULTED IN AT LEAST ONE DISCLOSURE OF POTENTIAL EXPLOITATION. LCHT PRESENTED AT 8 STATEWIDE, 4 NATIONAL, AND 1 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH + ACTION PROGRAM, CONTINUED: LCHT COMPLETED AND PUBLISHED A CHILD WELFARE TOOLKIT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND WORKED WITH THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK GROUP TO REVISE THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, USED BY COUNTY DHS OFFICES, THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES, AND THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. LCHT ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE NATIONAL HUMAN- CENTERED ACTION RESEARCH TO DISRUPT TRAFFICKING (HART) INITIATIVE, INFORMING THE DESIGN OF COLORADO PROJECT 2028.
  6. LCHT'S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (LDP) PREPARES HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS AND SURVIVORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANTI-TRAFFICKING FIELD THROUGH TWO 10- WEEK SESSIONS ANNUALLY. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE 150 OR MORE HOURS OF HANDS-ON LEARNING ALONGSIDE LCHT STAFF. IN 2025, LCHT HIRED A DEDICATED LDP MANAGER WHO REDESIGNED CORE DOCUMENTATION, STRENGTHENED CURRICULUM, AND ADDED SEMINARS ON COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. ELEVEN INTERNS SUPPORTED LCHT PROGRAMS IN 2025, BRINGING THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL TO 219 SINCE THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2005. LCHT AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SIX PARTICIPANTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

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 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 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 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.