Cornerstones of Care
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PARTNERING FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $63.3 million
- Spending
- $66.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 1.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 67%
- Employees
- 954
- Volunteers
- 1,013
- Highest pay
- $333,233, ceo/president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.3 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2514 of 14 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 December 31, 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 (4)
- $20.2 million spent. THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES IN CASS, JACKSON, BOONE, COLE, RANDOLPH AND HOWARD COUNTIES IN MISSOURI.CORNERSTONES OF CARE IMPROVES CHILD SAFETY AND WELLNESS OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN UNDER THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVISION. ADDITIONALLY, CORNERSTONES OF CARE FINDS PERMANENT HOMES FOR THESE CHILDREN.SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN OF ALL ETHNICITIES, IN THE PARENT'S HOME, RELATIVE HOME, KINSHIP HOME, FOSTER HOME, ADOPTIVE HOME, RESIDENTIAL SETTING, AS WELL AS GROUP HOME SETTINGS.CORNERSTONES OF CARE REMEDIES THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND PREVENTS FUTURE ABUSE AND NEGLECT, BY PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THERAPY, PARENT EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CHILD EDUCATION, AND BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION.OUTCOMES:91.6% OF CHILDREN WILL NOT RE-ENTER CARE32% OF CHILDREN WILL REACH PERMANENCY99.68% OF CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE A CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORT WHILE IN CUSTODY.THE CORNERSTONES OF CARE KANSAS FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOSTER CARE, REINTEGRATION, AND ADOPTION CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 741 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WYANDOTTE, LEAVENWORTH AND ATCHISON COUNTIES. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PERMANENCY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT FOCUS ON REUNIFYING FAMILIES IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. WHEN REINTEGRATION IS NOT VIABLE OUR FOCUS BECOMES CREATING HEALTHY AND LASTING CONNECTIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH KIN OR THROUGH ADOPTION.THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO DIVERSE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN VARIOUS SETTINGS INCLUDING THE PARENT'S HOME, RELATIVE OR KINSHIP HOME AND FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE HOME. CORNERSTONES OF CARE USES A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH TO PREVENT FUTURE ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROVIDE THERAPY, PARENT EDUCATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CHILD EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION TO ULTIMATELY REDUCE THE TIME CHILDREN SPEND IN CARE.
- $7.1 million spent. THE THERAPEUTIC SCHOOL OPTIONS WITHIN CORNERSTONES OF CARE ARE GILLIS (K-8) AND OZANAM (9-12). THESE SCHOOLS PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO 110 STUDENTS WHO ARE ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN. THESE STUDENTS ARE CONTRACTUALLY PLACED BY OVER 32 PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 10 CHARTER SCHOOLS. WHILE STUDENTS ARE IN OUR CARE, NOT ONLY DO WE EDUCATE THEM IN CORE SUBJECT AREAS SUCH AS MATH, SCIENCE, READING, LANGUAGE ARTS, AND SOCIAL STUDIES. THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO EXPOSED TO A VARIETY OF ELECTIVE CLASSES SUCH AS PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ART, MUSIC, AND HORTICULTURE. THE CLASSROOMS ARE SELF-CONTAINED AND SUPPORTED BY ADDITIONAL STAFF AS WELL AS THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. EACH STUDENT IS ASSIGNED A THERAPIST, AND THEY RECEIVE 30 MINUTES OF INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AS WELL AS GROUP THERAPY PER WEEK.BUILD TRYBE, IS A CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEAM AND IS A MENTORSHIP COMMUNITY THAT BUILDS HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE BY EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH EMPLOYABLE SKILLS. IT IS A BRIDGE CONNECTING YOUTH, WHO LACK A STABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM, TO OPPORTUNITY. OUR TEAM OF TRADE EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONNECT YOUTH TO THREE SKILL-BASED CAREER PATHS: CULINARY, CONSTRUCTION, AND LANDSCAPE. THE STUDENTS SUPPORTED COME FROM KANSAS FOSTER, MISSOURI FOSTER, AND DAY TREATMENT SCHOOLS AS WELL AS OUTSIDE PARTNER AGENCIES.A PROGRAM OF CORNERSTONES OF CARE, BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT TEAM PROVIDES TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND ADMINISTRATORS IN PRE-K TO 12TH-GRADE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER, AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS IN SUBURBAN, URBAN, AND RURAL SETTINGS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. WITH SERVICES AND TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS, TEAMS, OR ENTIRE FACULTIES TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR EACH SCHOOL AND/OR DISTRICTS, BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT TEAM CAN HELP STAFF AND FAMILIES BECOME MORE TRAUMA-INFORMED FOR THE STUDENTS AND CHILDREN THEY SERVE. AFTER AN INITIAL MEETING AND IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS WITH THE CONSULTANTS, THEY WILL HOST A TRAINING TO GIVE THE ENTIRE STAFF A FEEL FOR THE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT TEAM PHILOSOPHY AND PROGRAM. THE CONSULTANTS WILL RECOMMEND A PLAN OF ACTION TO MEET THE DESIRED GOALS. BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT TEAM IN-HOME SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED, WHICH CAN HELP PARENTS FIND NEW WAYS TO CONNECT WITH CHILDREN WHOM THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY FOUND DIFFICULT. A BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SUPPORT TEAM CONSULTANT MAKES REGULARLY SCHEDULED IN-HOME OR VIRTUAL VISITS TO DEVELOP A TAILORED PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE CHILD'S AND FAMILY'S NEEDS. THE PARENT WILL LEARN STRATEGIES TO TEACH/MODEL AND LEARN HOW TO PROBLEM-SOLVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
- $7.9 million spent. THE INDEPENDENT LIVING FACILITIES OF THE PATHWAYS PROGRAMS PROVIDED 15,582 TREATMENT DAYS FOR 85 TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS IN A VARIETY OF TRANSITIONAL LIVING FACILITIES IN THE KANSAS CITY, KS/MO AREAS.THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES A STRUCTURED AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND ARE STRUGGLING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SAFETY AND PROVIDES YOUTH WITH NEW SKILLS AND TOOLS TO HELP PROCESS TRAUMA AND LOSS, MANAGE EMOTIONS AND DEVELOP HEALTHY COPING SKILLS. TREATMENT INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, EXPRESSIVE AND FAMILY THERAPY, AS WELL AS MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PSYCHO-EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS. EACH YOUTH HAS AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN AND TREATMENT GOALS. OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM BY MEETING STANDARDS, DEMONSTRATING BEST PRACTICES, AND MAINTAINING CERTIFICATION IN A TRAUMA INFORMED MODEL.THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 14,490 TREATMENT DAYS FOR 185 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN SERVED BY THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS.THE FAMILY FOCUSED SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE AFTERCARE PROGRAM SERVED 63 UNDUPLICATED CHILDREN.
- $20.1 million spent. THESE PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OTHER PROGRAMS SERVICES FURTHERING THE MISSION OF FOSTERING SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. TO FURTHER THIS MISSION CORNERSTONES OF CARE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING FAMILY SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO A WIDE ARRAY OF COUNTIES IN WESTERN MISSOURI AND EASTERN KANSAS.THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:SHOW ME HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IS A FIVE YEAR PROJECT FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. IT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SCIENCE, AND THREE COMMUNITY FAMILY AGENCIES WHO HAVE COLLABORATED TO ASSIST SINGLES AND COUPLES TO HAVE HAPPY AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. OUR COURSES REACH TWENTY-ONE COUNTIES THROUGHOUT MISSOURI.FAMILY SERVICES - RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG FAMILY UNIT, OUR IN-HOME FAMILY SERVICES PROGRAM HELPS KANSAS FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SAFELY ALLEVIATE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS.HOME BASED PREVENTION SERVICES IS A SERVICE DESIGNED TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. THESE SERVICES PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH HISTORY OF TRAUMA, ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. HOME BASED INTERVENTION SERVICES FOCUS ON SAFELY REUNITING FAMILIES. OUR FAMILY REUNIFICATION SERVICES PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, CONNECTING FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PROVIDING SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY IN ORDER TO BRING THE FAMILY SAFELY BACK TOGETHER. IN ADDITION, CORNERSTONES OF CARE PROVIDES A WIDE ARRAY OF OUTPATIENT COUNSELING TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ADDRESSING THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, IMPROVE STRESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND REDUCE, OR ELIMINATE, THE NEED FOR PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION. THROUGH OUTPATIENTCOUNSELING, CLIENTS EXPERIENCE PERSONAL GROWTH AND CHANGE BY LEARNING SKILLS TO PROCESS LOSS AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 December 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 November 1997.
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 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.