Childrens Heartlink
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WE SAVE CHILDREN'S LIVES BY TRANSFORMING PEDIATRIC HEART CARE IN UNDERSERVED PARTS OF THE WORLD.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 20
- Volunteers
- 160
- Highest pay
- $200,318, president
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
Fair: 68 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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.
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 26 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)
- $1.4 million spent. PROGRAMMING. THE PROGRAMS TEAM CONSOLIDATED LEADERSHIP IN ASIA UNDER ONE COUNTRY DIRECTOR. THE SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR AFRICA WAS NAMED TO OVERSEE EXPLORATION OF PARTNERSHIPS IN ANGOLA, GHANA AND NAMIBIA. THE PROGRAMS TEAM FULLY EXECUTED OUR BLENDED MODEL (IN-PERSON AND REMOTE TRAINING), CONDUCTING 27 IN-PERSON VISITS, 124 REMOTE TRAININGS, AND 10 COMMUNITY TRAININGS REACHING NON-CHL PARTNERS. IN TOTAL 4,437 CLINICIANS WERE TRAINED. THIS WAS ACHEIVED BY ORGANIZING A TOTAL OF 603 VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTS, RESULTING IN 1,037 TRAINING DAYS, VALUED AT 1,064,525 IN DONATED TIME. INNOVATION AND GROWTH: SIGNIFICANT USE OF CHILDRENS HEARTLINK CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (COE) AND PARTNERS FOR SOUTH-TO-SOUTH TRAINING CONTINUED THIS YEAR. CHL TOGETHER WITH ONE OF OUR COES DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY OF EXTENDED REALITY TECHNOLOGY TO SIMPLIFY THE UNDERSTANDING OF COMPLEXT DEFECTS AND IMPROVE TREATMENT PLANNING IN A PILOT PROJECT. IN ADDITION, A NOVEL PATHWAYS OF CARE PARTNERSHIP WAS DEVELOPED WITH A LEADER IN TELEMEDICINE SCREENING IN BRAZIL AND FUNDED FOR EXECUTION NEXT YEAR. THE CUMULATIVE RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS ARE THAT 91% OF OUR PARTNERS MADE PROGRESS TOWARDS BECOMING A COE AS PLANNED, PEFORMING MORE THAN 12,500 SURGERIES, 4,700 INTERVENTIONAL CATHETERIZATIONS, AND HELPING MORE THAN 213,000 CHILDREN. PROGRAMMING. THE PROGRAMS TEAM CONSOLIDATED LEADERSHIP IN ASIA UNDER ONE COUNTRY DIRECTOR. THE SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR FOR AFRICA WAS NAMED TO OVERSEE EXPLORATION OF PARTNERSHIPS IN ANGOLA, GHANA AND NAMIBIA. THE PROGRAMS TEAM FULLY EXECUTED OUR BLENDED MODEL (IN-PERSON AND REMOTE TRAINING), CONDUCTING 27 IN-PERSON VISITS, 124 REMOTE TRAININGS, AND 10 COMMUNITY TRAININGS REACHING NON-CHL PARTNERS. IN TOTAL 4,437 CLINICIANS WERE TRAINED. THIS WAS ACHEIVED BY ORGANIZING A TOTAL OF 603 VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENTS, RESULTING IN 1,037 TRAINING DAYS, VALUED AT 1,064,525 IN DONATED TIME. INNOVATION AND GROWTH: SIGNIFICANT USE OF CHILDRENS HEARTLINK CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE (COE) AND PARTNERS FOR SOUTH-TO-SOUTH TRAINING CONTINUED THIS YEAR. CHL TOGETHER WITH ONE OF OUR COES DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY OF EXTENDED REALITY TECHNOLOGY TO SIMPLIFY THE UNDERSTANDING OF COMPLEXT DEFECTS AND IMPROVE TREATMENT PLANNING IN A PILOT PROJECT. IN ADDITION, A NOVEL PATHWAYS OF CARE PARTNERSHIP WAS DEVELOPED WITH A LEADER IN TELEMEDICINE SCREENING IN BRAZIL AND FUNDED FOR EXECUTION NEXT YEAR. THE CUMULATIVE RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS ARE THAT 91% OF OUR PARTNERS MADE PROGRESS TOWARDS BECOMING A COE AS PLANNED, PEFORMING MORE THAN 12,500 SURGERIES, 4,700 INTERVENTIONAL CATHETERIZATIONS, AND HELPING MORE THAN 213,000 CHILDREN.
- $111,271 spent. OUTREACH ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS TO ENGAGE EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS. WE HAVE ISSUED REGULAR NEWSLETTERS TO SUPPORTERS, PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE GREW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE THROUGH CONSISTENT, ENGAGING POSTS AND AMPLIFIED OUR MISSION THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER HOSPITALS, VOLUNTEER INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS. WE CONTINUED LEVERAGING OUR WEBSITE WITH MONTHLY BLOGS AND LAUNCHED NEW WEBSITE OPTIMIZED FOR SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT AND GROWTH. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED TO HOST WEBINARS FOR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORTERS, VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN LOW-TO MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR MEMBERSHIP IN GLOBAL HEALTH WORKING GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS. OUTREACH ACCOMPLISHMENTS: WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR EFFORTS TO ENGAGE EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS. WE HAVE ISSUED REGULAR NEWSLETTERS TO SUPPORTERS, PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE GREW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIENCE THROUGH CONSISTENT, ENGAGING POSTS AND AMPLIFIED OUR MISSION THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH PARTNER HOSPITALS, VOLUNTEER INSTITUTIONS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS. WE CONTINUED LEVERAGING OUR WEBSITE WITH MONTHLY BLOGS AND LAUNCHED NEW WEBSITE OPTIMIZED FOR SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT AND GROWTH. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED TO HOST WEBINARS FOR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORTERS, VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN LOW-TO MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR MEMBERSHIP IN GLOBAL HEALTH WORKING GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS.
- $600,568 spent. ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CHILDREN'S HEARTLINK CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGH-LEVEL GLOBAL COALITIONS AND TO LEAD GLOBAL ADVOCACY FOR BETTER RECOGNITION OF PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE BY POLICYMAKERS AND GOVERNMENTS. CHL CONTINUES TO LEAD THE GLOBAL COALITION FOR PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEARTS ADVOCATING FOR CHILDHOOD-ONSET HEART DISEASE RECOGNITION GLOBALLY AND STRONG GOVERNMENT OUTREACH FOR SUPPORT OF A WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION FOR CHILDHOOD-ONSET HEART DISEASE. WE PARTICIPATED IN WHO CONSULTATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BIRTH DEFECTS AND PROVIDED VALUED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON THE MOST COMMON BIRTH DEFECT, CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. WE CONTINUED LEADING GLOBAL ACTION FOR CONGENITAL CONDITIONS, A COALITION WITH OTHER NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON ADDRESSING THE BURDEN OF BIRTH DEFECTS, ADVOCATING GLOBALLY THROUGH ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS BUILDING EVENTS DURING HIGH-LEVEL MULTILATERAL GATHERINGS. WE GENERATED AND SHARED EVIDENCE TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE GUIDELINES CHL STAFF DELIVERED 5 PRESENTATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS, ORGANIZED 6 EVENTS, 1 MINISTRY OF HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS MEETING, AND STAFF PUBLISHED 4 PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES ON HEALTH TOPICS REPRESENING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH HEART DISEASE. ADVOCACY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CHILDREN'S HEARTLINK CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGH-LEVEL GLOBAL COALITIONS AND TO LEAD GLOBAL ADVOCACY FOR BETTER RECOGNITION OF PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE BY POLICYMAKERS AND GOVERNMENTS. CHL CONTINUES TO LEAD THE GLOBAL COALITION FOR PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL HEARTS ADVOCATING FOR CHILDHOOD-ONSET HEART DISEASE RECOGNITION GLOBALLY AND STRONG GOVERNMENT OUTREACH FOR SUPPORT OF A WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION FOR CHILDHOOD-ONSET HEART DISEASE. WE PARTICIPATED IN WHO CONSULTATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BIRTH DEFECTS AND PROVIDED VALUED TECHNICAL EXPERTISE ON THE MOST COMMON BIRTH DEFECT, CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. WE CONTINUED LEADING GLOBAL ACTION FOR CONGENITAL CONDITIONS, A COALITION WITH OTHER NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON ADDRESSING THE BURDEN OF BIRTH DEFECTS, ADVOCATING GLOBALLY THROUGH ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS BUILDING EVENTS DURING HIGH-LEVEL MULTILATERAL GATHERINGS. WE GENERATED AND SHARED EVIDENCE TO INFORM POLICY AND PRACTICE GUIDELINES CHL STAFF DELIVERED 5 PRESENTATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS, ORGANIZED 6 EVENTS, 1 MINISTRY OF HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS MEETING, AND STAFF PUBLISHED 4 PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES ON HEALTH TOPICS REPRESENING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH HEART DISEASE.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.
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