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First Witness Child Advocacy Center

EIN 41-1737291 · Duluth, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES RESPONSE TO CHILD ABUSE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
12
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$106,053, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 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 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $832,164 spent. FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES FORENSICALLY SOUND INTERVIEWS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND VULNERABLE ADULTS WHO HAVE REPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, WITNESS'S VIOLENCE, OR WHO MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE VICTIMIZED. OUR INTERVIEWS PROVIDE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE SPACE FOR VICTIMS TO TALK ABOUT THE ABUSE IN A ONE VIDEO RECORDED INTERVIEW BY A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. 244 INVESTIGATIVE (FORENSIC) INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED. WE PROVIDED FORENSIC INTERVIEW TRAINING TO 181 PROFESSIONALS. WE ALSO PROVIDED ADVOCACY TRAINING TO 213 PROFESSIONALS. WE TRAINED 246 PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON CHILD ABUSE RELATED TOPICS. THROUGH OUR SAFE AND STRONG CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM WE ARE RAISING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION ABOUT CHILD ABUSE. WE PROVIDED COMMUNITY AND PREVENTION EDUCATION TO 4,447 CHILDREN THROUGH THE SAFE AND STRONG CHILD PROGRAM AND REACHED 246 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH GENERAL OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. 3,001 FAMILY ADVOCACY SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED. ADVOCACY INCLUDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING A TIME OF CRISIS, SUPPORT AND NAVIGATION OF THE COURT SYSTEM, REFERRALS TO THERAPY AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND SAFETY PLANNING. 31 CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL EXAMS WERE CONDUCTED BY A CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL SPECIALIST. FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER PROVIDES FORENSICALLY SOUND INTERVIEWS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND VULNERABLE ADULTS WHO HAVE REPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, WITNESS'S VIOLENCE, OR WHO MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE VICTIMIZED. OUR INTERVIEWS PROVIDE A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE SPACE FOR VICTIMS TO TALK ABOUT THE ABUSE IN A ONE VIDEO RECORDED INTERVIEW BY A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. 244 INVESTIGATIVE (FORENSIC) INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED. WE PROVIDED FORENSIC INTERVIEW TRAINING TO 181 PROFESSIONALS. WE ALSO PROVIDED ADVOCACY TRAINING TO 213 PROFESSIONALS. WE TRAINED 246 PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON CHILD ABUSE RELATED TOPICS. THROUGH OUR SAFE AND STRONG CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM WE ARE RAISING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EDUCATION ABOUT CHILD ABUSE. WE PROVIDED COMMUNITY AND PREVENTION EDUCATION TO 4,447 CHILDREN THROUGH THE SAFE AND STRONG CHILD PROGRAM AND REACHED 246 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH GENERAL OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. 3,001 FAMILY ADVOCACY SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED. ADVOCACY INCLUDES EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING A TIME OF CRISIS, SUPPORT AND NAVIGATION OF THE COURT SYSTEM, REFERRALS TO THERAPY AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND SAFETY PLANNING. 31 CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL EXAMS WERE CONDUCTED BY A CHILD ABUSE MEDICAL SPECIALIST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 May 1993.

    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.