Kansas Childrens Service League
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.
- Income
- $19.3 million
- Spending
- $19.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 81%
- Employees
- 303
- Volunteers
- 151
- Highest pay
- $169,186, ceo
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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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, 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 (5)
- $6.3 million spent. HEALTHY FAMILIES: IN 1996, KCSL BEGAN ITS HEALTHY FAMILIES SERVICES. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES TO 834 KANSAS FAMILIES ACROSS 45 KANSAS COUNTIES. KCSL'S HEALTHY FAMILIES SERVICES ARE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BY HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA). PROGRAM GOALS FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES INCLUDE PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; ENHANCING CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTING POSITIVE PARENTING. THESE GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED BY INITIATING SERVICES PRENATALLY OR AT BIRTH TO AT-RISK PARENTS; USING VOLUNTARY AND POSITIVE OUTREACH APPROACHES IN ENGAGEMENT OF FAMILY SERVICE INTENSIVE HOME VISITATION FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE PARENT AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT; AND UTILIZING ONLY STANDARDIZED AND EVIDENCE-BASED TOOLS TO SYSTEMATICALLY EVALUATE PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND EFFECTIVENESS. HEALTHY FAMILIES SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED UNTIL A CHILD REACHES AGE 5 OR UNTIL THEY BEGIN SCHOOL.
- $5.9 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: IN 1977, KCSL ESTABLISHED ITS LEADERSHIP AS AN EXPERT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HEAD START IN 10 WESTERN KANSAS COUNTIES (FINNEY, GRANT, GRAY, HASKELL, KEARNY, SEWARD, SCOTT, STANTON, STEVENS, AND WICHITA). OUR PRESENCE INCLUDES AN ARRAY OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDES HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START, AND KANSAS EARLY HEAD START. IF KANSANS ARE TO CONTINUE TO PROSPER IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. CURRENT SCIENCE EMPHASIZES THAT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT DURING THE EARLY YEARS OF LIFE IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL, CREATING THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH FUTURE GROWTH DEPENDS. WHEN YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCE PROLONGED STRESS, THEIR EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS JEOPARIDIZED. HOWEVER, EARLY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT THRIVES WHEN PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES NURTURE YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGH LOVING CARE, INTERACTION AND STIMULATION. KCSL HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND BURMESE TO CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES IN THESE TEN WESTERN KANSAS COUNTIES. FAMILIES WITH THE HIGHEST RISK ARE OFFERED EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO HELP THEM THRIVE. CURRENTLY, KCSL IS SERVICING NEARLY 340 FAMILIES WITHIN THESE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS. OUTCOME MEASURES DEMONSTRATE KCSL'S QUALITY IN DELIVERY OF EARLY LEARNING SERVICES WHERE WE EXCEED PROGRAM STANDARDS IN ALL DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS AND BENCHMARKS FOR CHILDREN.
- $1.6 million spent. PARENT SUPPORT: THESE PROGRAMS WHICH CONSIST OF CRISIS NURSERY, KINSHIP NAVIGATOR, CIRCLE OF PARENTS, FATHERHOOD, PARENT LEADERSHIP AND 1-800-CHILDREN BUILD A STATEWIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES THAT ARE AIMED AT PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES. CRISIS NURSERY AND KINSHIP OFFER CASE MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES NEDED TO IMPROVE PARENT AND CHILD FUNCTIONING. CIRCLE OF PARENTS, FATHERHOOD AND PARENT LEADERSHIP OFFER EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO CAREGIVERS TO INCREASE FAMILY FUNCTIONING, INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND INCREASE KNOWLEDE OF PARENTING NURTURING AND ATTACHMENT SKILLS. THESE PROGRAMS IN 2024 WORKED WITH 909 FAMILIES AND 667 CHILDREN. THE 1-800-CHILDREN PROGRAM OFFERS A 24/7 HELPLINE THAT IS A NONJUDGEMENTAL SUPPORT TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN FINDING RESOURCES ANYWHERE IN THE 105 COUNTIES IN KANSAS. THERE WERE 1,619 CALLS MADE TO THE HELPLINE BY KANSAS RESIDENTS IN 2024.
- $3.0 million spent. OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS INCLUDING ADOPTIVE SERVICES, JUVENILE INTAKE AND CASE MANAGMENT, OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH, PREVENTION SERVICES, AND PASS-THROUGH SERVICES.
- (Expenses $ 2,990,148 including grants of $ 32,077)(Revenue $ 526,184) OTHER VARIOUS PROGRAMS INCLUDING ADOPTIVE SERVICES, JUVENILE INTAKE AND CASE MANAGMENT, OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH, PREVENTION SERVICES, AND PASS-THROUGH SERVICES.
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
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.
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.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.