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Child Advocates Inc

EIN 35-1788240 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILD ADVOCATES CHAMPIONS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT INDIANA BY ADVOCATING FOR JUSTICE, ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, AND FOSTERING WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN.

Income
$4.3 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
61
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$150,000, chief executive officer

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (4)
  1. $2.2 million spent. THROUGH THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (FSSA), INDIANA DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION (DMHA), CHILD ADVOCATES SERVES AS THE SINGLE STATEWIDE ACCESS SITE FOR THE CHILD MENTAL HEALTH WRAPAROUND (CMHW) PROGAM. WE ASSIST HOOSIER YOUTH WHO FACE SERIOUS MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH COMPLETING APPLICATIONS TO THE CMHW PROGRAM AND CONNECT THEM TO OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY (Expenses $ 219,082 including grants of $) OUR EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICE WORKS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL DUE TO TRAUMA OR OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES. OUR EDUCATION LIAISONS COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP EDUCATION PLANS THAT ACCOMMODATE AND SUPPORT EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM AT CHILD ADVOCATES INCLUDES PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OLDER CHILDREN IN THEIR CHINS (CHILD IN NEED OF SERVICES) AND TPR (TERMINATION OF PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP) CASES AS WELL AS IN ANCILLARY CASES INVOLVING LEGAL STATUS ISSUES. CHILDREN HAVE MANY RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO BE PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE IN HEARINGS, THE RIGHT TO BE A PART OF THEIR CASE PLANS, AND THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR CASE. THE GOAL OF OUR DIRECT REPRESENTATION SERVICE IS TO EMPOWER CHILDREN WITH INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CASE, AND TO ENSURE EACH CHILD'S PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS IN THE COURT PROCESS. OUR TEAM IS COMPRISED OF ATTORNEYS THAT HAVE DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE IN CHILD WELFARE LAW AND ARE TRAINED IN BEST PRACTICES FOR CHILD REPRESENTATION. OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR IS THE FIRST ATTORNEY IN INDIANA TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION AS A CHILD WELFARE LAW SPECIALIST. OUR REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN SERVICE IS IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRAIL STUDYING THE IMPACT OF COUNSEL FOR CHILDREN IN CHILD WELFARE CASES. OUR ATTORNEYS ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO CHILD-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONALS. THE LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES MEDIATION SERVICES IN CHILD WELFARE CASES IN MANY INDIANA COUNTIES. OUR ATTORNEY MEDIATORS ASSIST PARTIES TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND REMOVE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT CHILDREN FROM EXITING THE SYSTEM AND REACHING SAFE AND PERMANENT HOMES. FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS, OUR MEDIATION SERVICES HAVE BEEN CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS, CASE MANAGERS, GUARDIANS AD LITEM, SOCIAL WORKERS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, FOSTER PARENTS, AND ATTORNEYS TO BRING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNIQUE SKILLS TOGETHER IN A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS TO CRAFT INDIVIDUALIZED SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FACE.
  3. $554,211 spent. OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM PROVIDES WORKSHOPS TO ADULTS AND YOUTH IN CENTRAL INDIANA COMMUNITIES. ADULT WORKSHOPS EMPOWER ATTENDEES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CHILDREN'S LIVES THROUGH LEARNING, REFLECTION, AND ACTION. OUR YOUTH WORKSHOPS SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDES ENRICHING EXPERIENCES TO YOUTH INCLUDING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LIFE SKILLS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. (Expenses $ 219,082 including grants of $) OUR EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICE WORKS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL DUE TO TRAUMA OR OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES. OUR EDUCATION LIAISONS COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP EDUCATION PLANS THAT ACCOMMODATE AND SUPPORT EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS.
  4. $219,082 spent. OUR EDUCATION ADVOCACY SERVICE WORKS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL DUE TO TRAUMA OR OTHER LIFE CHALLENGES. OUR EDUCATION LIAISONS COLLABORATE WITH PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, SCHOOL STAFF, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP EDUCATION PLANS THAT ACCOMMODATE AND SUPPORT EACH CHILD'S UNIQUE NEEDS.

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 July 1990.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Advocates Inc (Framingham, MA), EIN 23-7451423. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.