Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Barker Adoption Foundation

EIN 52-0642791 · Bethesda, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

The Barker Adoption Foundation provides life-long services for all in the adoption constellation and advocates for ethical, respectful, and child-centered adoption practices.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
49
Volunteers
45
Highest pay
$198,061, 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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $985,888 spent. Mental Health Counseling & Post-Adoption Services: Barker provides comprehensive post-adoption support to all members of the adoption triad-adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive families-across their lifespan. Services include search and reunion assistance, parent coaching, support groups, educational workshops, an annual conference, consultation services, homeland heritage tours, and individual and family mental health counseling. Barker's post-adoption & mental health counseling services are available to all touched by adoption regardless of whether their adoption experience was with Barker or another agency.
  2. $675,280 spent. Domestic Program: Barker offers free, confidential, and unbiased counseling to individuals and couples who wish to explore making an adoption plan for their child, whether during pregnancy or while already parenting. Services are offered in both English and Spanish, in person or virtually, and include coordinating proper medical care, providing emotional support, resource referrals, and ongoing supportive services regardless of the decision made. Barker serves individuals and couples who wish to adopt infants domestically. Barker provides education, home studies, matching, placement, and post-placement supervision. Services are provided in a transparent and ethical manner, ensuring a child-centered approach.Barker has a cradle care program where its trained foster families provide nurturing temporary care for the baby while the birth parents take the time necessary to decide whether to parent or to place the child for adoption.
  3. $612,402 spent. International Adoption Program: The Barker Adoption Foundation's International Adoption Program provides education, counseling, and comprehensive adoption services to families seeking to adopt children from other countries that allow US families to adopt internationally. While international adoption has decreased globally, Barker continues to support families who pursue international placements through accredited partners and provides ongoing training and post-placement supervision. The program also assists families with intercountry adoption finalizations and immigration processes. Barker ensures all international placements comply with The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, U.S. and foreign law, and ethical best practices.
  4. $592,697 spent. Project Wait No Longer ("PWNL"): Project Wait No Longer is Barker's older child adoption program focused on placing children from U.S. foster care-typically older children, sibling groups, and children with complex needs-with permanent, loving families. PWNL provides prospective adoptive parents with intensive training, home study assessments, matching and placement services, and ongoing support. The program works closely with public child welfare agencies and seeks to reduce the number of children waiting for adoption by recruiting and preparing families who are committed to meeting their needs.

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 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? 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.

  4. 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1951.

    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.