Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Cradle Society

EIN 36-2181994 · Evanston, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BUILDING FAMILIES THROUGH ADOPTION. SUPPORTING FAMILIES THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION.

Income
$5.3 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
16 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
66
Volunteers
32
Highest pay
$272,100, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 September 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)
  1. $1.5 million spent. ADOPTION & FAMILY SUPPORT: CRADLE STAFF PROVIDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND OPTIONS COUNSELING FOR EXPECTANT PARENTS FREE OF CHARGE.CRADLE STAFF PROVIDE HOME STUDY ASSESSMENT AND PREPARTION FOR HOPEFUL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. LIFELONG EMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR BIRTH PARENTS, ADOPTIVE FAMILIES, AND ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS IS AVAILABLE THROUGH POST ADOPTION GROUPS, WORKSHOPS AND THERAPY. IN FY2025, TRAINED CRADLE COUNSELORS RESPONDED TO 145 HELPLINE INQUIRIES FROM EXPECTANT PARENTS, RECEIVED 47 EXPECTANT-PARENT REFERRALS FROM HOSPITALS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS, WROTE 36 HOME STUDIES FOR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, PROVIDED 391 ADOPTION-COMPETENT COUNSELING SESSIONS, PROVIDED 69 POST-ADOPTION CONSULTATIONS, FACILITATED POST ADOPTION GROUPS/WORKSHOPS TO 76 INDIVIDUALS, AND WROTE 20 POST ADOPTION BACKGROUND REPORTS.
  2. $804,738 spent. EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT: THE CRADLE HOSTS WEBINARS, COURSES, AND WORKSHOPS TO HELP FAMILIES INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF ADOPTION AND PARENTING. IN FY2025, THE CRADLE RECEIVED 11,071 ENROLLMENTS FOR INTERACTIVE, ADOPTION-RELATED COURSES AND WEBINARS. THE CRADLE ALSO CONDUCTED COMMUNITY BASED PRESENTATIONS, 4 FOCUSED ON ADOPTION AND 1 DESIGNATED TO HELP PARENTS AND CHILD WELL-BEING PROFESSIONALS SUPPORT CHILDREN'S EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. THE CRADLE ALSO PROVIDES OUTREACH AND ADOPTION EDUCATION TO ILLINOIS-BASED CLINIC AND HOSPITAL PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH EXPECTANT PARENTS AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. IN FY2025, WE AWARDED 164 CE/CU CREDITS TO PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH EXPECTANT PARENTS FOLLOWING 4 IN-SERVICE AND 6 VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS FOR HOSPITAL STAFF AND 3 IN-PERSON AND 1 VIRTUAL PRESENTATION TO NURSING AND DOCTORATE STUDENTS AND CASE MANAGERS. THE CRADLE ALSO CONDUCTED 1 NON-CEU PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH ON ADOPTION.
  3. $917,648 spent. NURSERY AND INTERIM CARE: IN FY2025, THE CRADLE TRANSITIONED FROM AN ONSITE NURSERY TO NEWBORN INTERIM CARE PROVIDED THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENT WITH A CHICAGO AREA HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY. - THE NURSERY PROVIDES A SAFE, NEUTRAL PLACE FOR INFANTS TO STAY WHILE THEIR PARENTS TAKE TIME TO DECIDE IF ADOPTION WILL BE THE PLAN FOR THEIR CHILD. THIS IS AVAILABLE AT NO COST, REGARDLESS OF THE PARENTS' DECISION. IN FY2025, 18 INFANTS RECEIVED 373 NIGHTS OF CARE IN OUR NURSERY, AND 17 INFANTS WERE PLACED INTO THEIR PERMANENT ADOPTIVE HOMES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 September 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 February 1938.

    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.