Pelican Center for Children and Families
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PELICAN CENTER PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO JUDGES, COURT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS, LAWYERS FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, INDIGENT PARENTS, CHILD WELFARE AGENCY ATTORNEYS AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, CHILD WELFARE AGENCY STAFF, AND COURT ADVOCATES TO ACCOMPLISH THE CENTER'S VISION OF A CHILD WELFARE LEGAL SYSTEM THAT EFFECTIVELY SUPPORTS SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND WELL-BEING OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.
- Income
- $907,255
- Spending
- $957,092
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 4.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 89%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $143,777, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 September 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 (5)
- $334,737 spent. COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - TRAINING: CHILD WELFARE TRAINING AND EDUCATION CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING EVENT COORDINATION, LOUISIANA CHILD WELFARE TRAINING ACADEMY PARTNER, STATEWIDE ANNUAL "TOGETHER WE CAN" CONFERENCE ON CHILD WELFARE. EFFORTS SUPPORT A COMPETENT CHILD WELFARE WORKFORCE.TOGETHER WE CAN CONFERENCE: THE TOGETHER WE CAN CONFERENCE IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENT PROVIDING PROFESSIONALS WITH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TRAINING. THE AUDIENCE INCLUDES COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES, CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS, JUDGES, PARENTS' ATTORNEYS, CHILDREN'S ATTORNEYS, SOCIAL WORKERS, INDIGENT DEFENDERS, CCFS WORKERS, EDUCATION LEADERS AND STUDENTS, FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND MORE. THE TWC CONFERENCE BEGAN AND CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE GOAL OF GATHERING ALL PARTIES WHO WORK AND/OR VOLUNTEER WITH THE CHILD WELFARE ARENA SO THAT ALL WOULD RECEIVE THE SAME INFORMATION, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS TO HELP PROTECT CHILDREN AS A TEAM, AND WORK TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN, THEIR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING. THE TOGETHER WE CAN CONFERENCE OFFERS IN-DEPTH LEARNING WORKSHOPS WHICH ADDRESS CHILD WELFARE POLICY AND PRACTICE CONCERNS. THERE ARE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS FOCUSED ON THE LATEST TRENDS AND INSTITUTE SESSIONS ALLOWING MORE INTENSIVE ATTENTION TO THE SELECTED TOPICS.
- $161,733 spent. COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - DATA: SUPPORTS COURTS' USE OF DATA FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, INTERACTS WITH LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT DIVISION OF FAMILIES CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, GATHERS, ANALYZES, AND REPORTS ON MANDATORY CHILD IN NEED OF CARE LEGAL FRAME MANDATES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INDICATORS OF QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CHILD WELFARE CASES. IN ADDITION, SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN.
- $158,528 spent. PELICAN CENTER TRAINING: TRAINING INCLUDES BOTH LIVE AND ONLINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING. PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS ARE OFFERED TO TRAINEES. ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUDGES, COURT PERSONNEL, ATTORNEYS, PROFESSIONALS, AND FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. SUPPORT THE CENTER'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOUISIANA CHILD WELFARE TRAINING ACADEMY.
- $156,833 spent. COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - BASIC: COURT IMPROVEMENT JUDICIAL FELLOW, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN AND INDIGENT PARENTS AND SUPPORTING ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENSURE A COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD WHO NEEDS ONE. PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE'S FEDERAL CHILD AND FAMILY REVIEW AND RESULTANT PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT PLAN WHICH IDENTIFIED TRAINING NEEDS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED BY THE PELICAN CENTER.
- $5,075 spent. CASEY FAMILY PROGRAM - MY COMMUNITY CARES CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TRAINING: IN PERSON TRAINING BRINGING TOGETHER MCC CIVIL LEGAL ATTORNEYS AND MCC STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN THE SHARED VISION, PRACTICES, AND IMPACT OF PREVENTATIVE CIVIL LEGAL ADVOCACY IN LOUISIANA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 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 November 6, 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 September 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 May 2014.
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 November 4, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: National Center for Children and Families (Bethesda, MD), EIN 52-0591586. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.