Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Good Shepherd Children and Family Services

EIN 43-1297933 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONNECTING CHILDREN WITH FAMILIES AND KEEPING FAMILIES CONNECTED BY PROVIDING PREGNANCY AND PARENTING SUPPORT, FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS AND ADOPTION SERVICES.

Income
$9.5 million
Spending
$9.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
129
Volunteers
81
Highest pay
$230,378, president, catholic charities

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

Good: 86 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 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 25

    18 of 19 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 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 (6)
  1. $2.7 million spent. FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT:MEETS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION OF FOSTER HOMES AND PLACEMENT, SUPERVISION, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. OUR GOAL IS TO ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD WHILE WORKING TOWARDS PERMANENCY, I.E. REUNIFICATION WITH THE FAMILY, ADOPTION, OR GUARDIANSHIP. DURING THE MOST RECENT CONTRACT YEAR, 245 YOUTH WERE SERVED AND 26.12% REACHED PERMANENCY.
  2. $1.7 million spent. MATERNITY RESIDENTIAL:SHELTER/RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING GIRLS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 21 WHO ARE FOSTER YOUTH, HOMELESS, OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. IN THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 49 PREGNANT/PARENTING TEENS AND 36 BABIES. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024, 70% OF CLIENTS DEMONSTRATED IMPROVED PARENTING SKILLS, 91% TRANSITIONED TO A PLANNED LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND 70% OBTAINED/MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT AND/OR ENROLLED IN SCHOOL OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PREGNANCY & PARENTING SUPPORT:PROVIDES COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO EXPECTANT PARENTS OF ANY AGE AND FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCING A STRESSFUL PREGNANCY. THE GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TO ASSURE HEALTHY DELIVERY OF THE CHILD AND STABILIZE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT SUCH THAT THE CHILD WILL NOT BE AT RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. SERVICES INCLUDE DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, REFERRALS FOR APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE AND HOUSING, AND ADOPTION PLANNING (AS NEEDED). COUNSELING ADDRESSES DECISION MAKING, PARENTING SKILLS, STABILIZING LIVING SITUATIONS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS WITHIN THE FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS, PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, PLANNING AND THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH PARENTS. IN THE MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, 309 CLIENTS WERE SERVED, AND 90% OF BABIES BORN TO OUR PPS CLIENTS IN 2024 WERE OF A HEALTHY BIRTH WEIGHT.
  4. $285,565 spent. ADOPTION:RECRUITS, TRAINS AND COUNSELS APPLICANTS INTERESTED IN ADOPTION. POSSIBILITIES INCLUDE: NON-SPECIAL NEEDS INFANTS, SPECIAL NEEDS INFANTS, INFANTS AVAILABLE THROUGH INDEPENDENT ADOPTION, CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION BY A RELATIVE OR STEP-PARENT, INFANTS AND CHILDREN AVAILABLE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION, AND OLDER CHILDREN AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. IN FISCAL YEAR 24, 177 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SERVICES (HOME STUDY, POST-ADOPTIVE SERVICES, INFORMATION REGARDING PAST ADOPTIONS, ETC.). IN CALENDAR YEAR 24, 94% OF PLACEMENTS REMAINED STABLE AND 100% OF CHILDREN IN ADOPTIVE PLACEMENT RECEIVED ROUTINE MEDICAL CARE ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STANDARDS.
  5. $1.1 million spent. TREATMENT FOSTER CARE:TFC PROVIDES INTENSIVE, FAMILY-BASED CARE FOR DEEPLY TROUBLED YOUTH AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONAL CARE. THE PROGRAM SERVED 46 YOUTH IN FY25. IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024, 100% OF YOUTH SERVED WERE FREE FROM SUBSTANTIATED INCIDENTS OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND 67% HAD IMPROVED OVERALL FUNCTIONING AS MEASURED BY THE CSPI.
  6. $813,980 spent. PARTNERS: IN FY24, GOOD SHEPHERD BECAME THE CONTRACT HOLDER FOR THE FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT OPERATED UNDER THE NAME OF ST. LOUIS PARTNERS. PARTNERS PROVIDER AGENCIES ARE GOOD SHEPHERD, BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER AND LUTHERAN FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES. TOGETHER THEY SERVE 495 CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI. GOOD SHEPHERD PROVIDES MANAGEMENT STAFF TO OVERSEE THE CONTRACT AND EMPLOYS 5.5 FTE IN THOSE ROLES: DIRECTOR, MEDICAL CASE MANAGER, 2 PLACEMENT SPECIALISTS, A QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER AND A HALF TIME COMPLIANCE MANAGER.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.