Caring for Kids Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CARING FOR KIDS, INC. (CFK) IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT, FULL-SERVICE ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE AGENCY OPERATING SINCE 1995. CFK SPECIALIZES IN DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE BIRTH PARENT, FOSTER CARE, ADOPTION AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR MISSION IS TO SURROUND THOSE IMPACTED BY ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE WITH COMPASSIONATE AND COMPETENT CARE. OUR VISION IS TO CARE FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THROUGH INTEGRITY-BASED, CLIENT-CENTERED, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES THAT C.A.R.E. (CELEBRATE UNIQUENESS, ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY, RESPECT DIFFERENCES, EMPOWER ALL VOICES).
- Income
- $6.8 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- -0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 80
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $187,847, executive di
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 44% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
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 (3)
- $3.3 million spent. FOSTER CARE PROGRAM - DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, CFK PROVIDED CARE FOR 170 CHILDREN. FOSTER CARE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM OF CFK FOR OVER 20 YEARS BY CERTIFYING FOSTER CAREGIVERS AND THUS, PROVIDING SAFE AND NURTURING HOMES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING INTO FOSTER CARE RESULTING IN A CONSTANT NEED TO RECRUIT AND CERTIFY NEW FOSTER CAREGIVERS. OHIO CHILDREN ARE ENTERING FOSTER CARE AT A RATE NEVER BEFORE SEEN. THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF CHILDREN COMING INTO CARE REVOLVE AROUND PARENTAL DRUG ADDICTION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOMETIMES, CHILDREN DO NOT RETURN HOME, AND FOSTER CAREGIVERS ARE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY FOSTER BUT TO ADOPT CHILDREN WHO ARE PLACED WITH THEM. 35 OF THE 170 PLACEMENTS SWITCHED FROM FOSTER TO ADOPTION STATUS. FOSTER CARE PROGRAM - DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, CFK PROVIDED CARE FOR 170 CHILDREN. FOSTER CARE HAS BEEN THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM OF CFK FOR OVER 20 YEARS BY CERTIFYING FOSTER CAREGIVERS AND THUS, PROVIDING SAFE AND NURTURING HOMES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN COMING INTO FOSTER CARE RESULTING IN A CONSTANT NEED TO RECRUIT AND CERTIFY NEW FOSTER CAREGIVERS. OHIO CHILDREN ARE ENTERING FOSTER CARE AT A RATE NEVER BEFORE SEEN. THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF CHILDREN COMING INTO CARE REVOLVE AROUND PARENTAL DRUG ADDICTION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOMETIMES, CHILDREN DO NOT RETURN HOME, AND FOSTER CAREGIVERS ARE NEEDED TO NOT ONLY FOSTER BUT TO ADOPT CHILDREN WHO ARE PLACED WITH THEM. 35 OF THE 170 PLACEMENTS SWITCHED FROM FOSTER TO ADOPTION STATUS.
- $1.2 million spent. ADOPTION PROVIDES A PERMANENT PLAN FOR A CHILD AND REPRESENTS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION THROUGH PRIVATE DOMESTIC ADOPTION OR THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. PRIVATE DOMESTIC INFANT PROGRAM: DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR CFK PROVIDED SERVICES TO 125 EXPECTING PARENTS IN OHIO. THESE PARENTS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MAKING AN ADOPTION PLAN FOR THEIR NEWBORN OR PREVIOUSLY MADE AN ADOPTION PLAN. CFK PROVIDES PRE-AND POSTADOPTION COUNSELING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, EDUCATION ON THE STATE OF OHIO ADOPTION LAWS AND PREPARES THE SOCIAL AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE BIRTH PARENT(S). CFK WORKS WITH EXPECTANT PARENT(S) AND PRE-ADOPTIVE FAMILIES TO CREATE A PLAN RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES. CFK IS COMMITTED TO A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS AND OFFERS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE EXPECTANT PARENTS, AND THE CHILDREN. CFK BELIEVES WORKING TOGETHER ALLOWS FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE MATCH WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF THE ADOPTION TRIAD. CFK PLACED 37 NEWBORNS DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. PUBLIC ADOPTION - CFK MATCHED 5 CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION FROM THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. CHILDREN ARE MATCHED WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BASED UPON THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO MEET THE CHILD'S NEEDS. ADOPTION PROVIDES A PERMANENT PLAN FOR A CHILD AND REPRESENTS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION THROUGH PRIVATE DOMESTIC ADOPTION OR THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. PRIVATE DOMESTIC INFANT PROGRAM: DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR CFK PROVIDED SERVICES TO 125 EXPECTING PARENTS IN OHIO. THESE PARENTS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MAKING AN ADOPTION PLAN FOR THEIR NEWBORN OR PREVIOUSLY MADE AN ADOPTION PLAN. CFK PROVIDES PRE-AND POSTADOPTION COUNSELING, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, EDUCATION ON THE STATE OF OHIO ADOPTION LAWS AND PREPARES THE SOCIAL AND MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE BIRTH PARENT(S). CFK WORKS WITH EXPECTANT PARENT(S) AND PRE-ADOPTIVE FAMILIES TO CREATE A PLAN RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, AS WELL AS PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES. CFK IS COMMITTED TO A THOUGHTFUL PROCESS AND OFFERS EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, THE EXPECTANT PARENTS, AND THE CHILDREN. CFK BELIEVES WORKING TOGETHER ALLOWS FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE MATCH WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF THE ADOPTION TRIAD. CFK PLACED 37 NEWBORNS DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. PUBLIC ADOPTION - CFK MATCHED 5 CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION FROM THE PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. CHILDREN ARE MATCHED WITH ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BASED UPON THE ABILITY OF THE FAMILY TO MEET THE CHILD'S NEEDS.
- $2.4 million spent. WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS RECRUITMENT - THIS PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FINALIZING 36 ADOPTIONS MAKING 54 ADOPTION MATCHES DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR. CFK HAS AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION (DTF). DTF HAS AWARDED CFK 21 GRANTS CREATING A PRESENCE OF 21 WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS RECRUITERS ON OUR STAFF RECRUITING FAMILIES FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING THE LONGEST FOR AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY AND HOME. THESE 21 SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 310 CHILDREN COMBINED AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
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 November 6, 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 January 1996.
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 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.