Spaulding for Children
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
In partnership with diverse communities, Spaulding for Children's mission is to develop and integrate revolutionary and innovative programs that provide families the support needed to enhance the care of children and youth with the pursuit of permanency.
- Income
- $14.6 million
- Spending
- $14.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 70%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 66
- Highest pay
- $187,633, president/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
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.9 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 26% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 0% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 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)
- $3.9 million spent. Child and Family Services (CFS)During the last year, Spaulding for Children was able to return 12 children home. This was an increase of one child from the previous year. An additional two children were able to secure permanency through a guardianship with a relative. Lastly, 10 children achieved permanency through adoption. The agency was able to work with over 110 families.
- $9.0 million spent. Spaulding Institute and AcademyThe Academy and the Institute had a total of 4 federal grants over the past year. One project focuses on increasing kinship support and shared parenting in Macomb County. Another project has several sites working on youth engagement practices. There is an extension of a project to support implementation and training of new foster and adopt parents across the nation. We have a project focused on supporting sites to improve their post-permanency services. Two projects are both subawards, one focused on leadership development for adoption professionals and another on training hospital staff on adoption sensitivity.
- Scholarships for Children formerly served by the OrganizationSpaulding for Children provides scholarship funds to support youth interested in higher education or to assist with trade related programs. This year we sent applications to eligible people but did not receive any completed applications. No awards were provided.
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
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 September 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 March 1968.
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.