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Childrens Law Center of Minnesota

EIN 41-1761589 · Saint Paul, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA PROMOTES AND PROTECTS THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH, AND POLICY REFORM.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$973,391
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
15.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 45%
Employees
13
Volunteers
129
Highest pay
$138,500, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    2 of 21 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, 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. $708,316 spent. CLC SERVED 420 CLIENTS IN 2024, AND SAW 155 CASES TO COMPLETION. OF THESE YOUTH, 52% (218) ARE FEMALE, 48% (202) ARE MALE; 61% (258) OF THE CASES ARE WITHIN RAMSEY COUNTY, 38% (161) ARE IN HENNEPIN COUNTY; 1% IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. ALL CLC CLIENTS ARE YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE IN MN, MOSTLY BETWEEN AGES 10-21. CLC SERVES A HIGH MINORITY POPULATION, MANY OF WHOM IDENTIFY AS MORE THAN ONE RACE. SPECIFICALLY, 157 (37%) ARE BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERICAN, 149 (35%) ARE TWO OR MORE RACES, 33 (8%) ARE ASIAN, 6 (1%) ARE HISPANIC-LATINO, 5 (1%) ARE NATIVE AMERCAN BUT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ICWA, 19 (5%) ARE ICWA ELIGIBLE, AND 51 (12%) ARE WHITE. 73% OF CLC CLIENTS GRADUATED OR WERE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. 333 (79%) OF CLIENTS SERVED IN 2024 BELONGED TO A SIBLING GROUP. 363 (86%) OF CLC CLIENTS HAD SPECIAL NEEDS. OF THE 155 CASES CLOSED IN 2024, 48 (31%) WERE ADOPTED, 23 (15%) AGED OUT, AND 19 (12%) HAD A TRANSFER OF LEGAL CUSTODY. CLC STAFF ATTORNEYS REPRESENTED 197 (47%) OF CLC'S CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS REPRESENTED 198 (47%) OF CLC'S CLIENTS, INCLUDING SIBLING GROUPS. SOME VOUNTEER ATTORNEYS HAVE MORE THAN ONE CASE THROUGH CLC.IN 2024, CLC STAFF SERVED ON, OR PARTICIPATE IN, OVER 15 EXTERNAL COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE MN SUPREME COURT COUNCIL ON CHILD PROTECTION, CHILDREN'S JUSTICE INITIATIVE, STATEWIDE CJI ADVISORY COMMITTEE, STATEWIDE CJI MENTAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE, MIFPA PHASE II, CHILDREN'S JUSTICE ACT TASK FORCE, HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY CHILDREN'S JUSTICE INITIATIVE GROUPS, MN RULES OF JUVENILE PROTECTION PROCEDURE COMMITTEE, STATE BOARD OF APPELLATE COUNSEL AND TRAINING, AND THE MSBA AND ABA CHILDREN AND LAW SECTIONS. IN 2024, 73% OF CLC CLIENTS GRADUATED OR WERE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, EXCEEDING THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. CLC TRAINED 29 NEW VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS IN 2024 THROUGH IN-PERSON AND ON-DEMAND CLE TRAINING. CLC ALSO FACILITATED TRAININGS ON ETHICS AND BEST PRACTICES WHEN REPRESENTING YOUTH IN CARE, RECENT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES AFFECTING CHILD PROTECTION PRACTICE, REASONABLE EFFORTS IN CHILD PROTECTION CASES, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE: A NATIVE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON HEALING.

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 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 October 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.