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Childrens Law Center Incorporated

EIN 52-1961588 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER BELIEVES EVERY CHILD SHOULD GROW UP WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION OF FAMILY, HEALTH AND EDUCATION AND LIVE IN A WORLD FREE FROM POVERTY, TRAUMA, RACISM, AND OTHER FORMS OF OPPRESSION. OUR MORE THAN 100 STAFF TOGETHER WITH DC CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS USE THE LAW TO SOLVE CHILDREN'S URGENT PROBLEMS TODAY AND IMPROVE THE SYSTEMS THAT WILL AFFECT THEIR LIVES TOMORROW. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1996, WE HAVE REACHED MORE THAN 50,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY AND MULTIPLIED OUR IMPACT BY ADVOCATING FOR CITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE.

Income
$15.1 million
Spending
$13.6 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
129
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$228,043, 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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 19% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 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 (3)
  1. $5.1 million spent. GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM - CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER'S ATTORNEYS ARE APPOINTED BY JUDGES WITHIN THE DC SUPERIOR COURT TO REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY HALF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED WITH THE DC CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY - SEVERAL HUNDRED CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE AND PROTECTIVE SUPERVISION EACH YEAR. WE MAKE SURE THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND WISHES ARE HEARD AND THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE PRIORITIZED. OUR REPRESENTATION A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM OF ATTORNEYS, SOCIAL WORKERS, INVESTIGATORS AND EDUCATION ATTORNEYS WHO ADVOCATE FOR THE SUPPORT CHILDREN NEED TO HEAL FROM THE TRAUMAS THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND TO LEAVE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM SAFE, HEALTHY, AND LEARNING.
  2. $3.1 million spent. HEALTHY TOGETHER - UNSAFE HOUSING, INADEQUATE EDUCATION, EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, LACK OF GOOD HEALTH CARE AND OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO POVERTY, TRAUMA AND RACISM CAN HARM CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THROUGH OUR HEALTHY TOGETHER PROGRAM, CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER PARTNERS WITH PEDIATRICIANS THROUGHOUT EIGHT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND CLINICS TO FIND AND FIX THE ROOT CAUSES OF A CHILD'S HEALTH PROBLEM SUCH AS ADVOCATING FOR LANDLORDS TO REPAIR WATER DAMAGE THAT LED TO MOLD WHICH EXACERBATES A CHILD'S ASTHMA. AND BECAUSE HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED, CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER ALSO ENSURES CHILDREN CAN START SCHOOL READY TO LEARN BY HELPING INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS GET SUPPORT EARLY. WHEN CHILDREN REACH SCHOOL AGE, CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER WORKS WITH PARENTS AND SCHOOLS TO GET A CHILD'S EDUCATION BACK ON TRACK FROM ENSURING TESTING FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES AT AN EARLY AGE TO MAKING SURE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES HAVE AN APPROPRIATE PLAN THAT MEETS THEIR LEARNING NEEDS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY - OUR SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY IS GROUNDED IN OUR EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH MORE THAN 50,000 DISTRICT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 1996. WE USE THIS EXPERTISE TO PARTNER WITH THE MAYOR, DISTRICT AGENCIES, THE DC COUNCIL, OTHER ADVOCATES, PARENTS, AND YOUTH TO FIND AND IMPLEMENT CITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS THAT BETTER SERVE CHILDREN'S NEEDS. WE WORK TO CHANGE LAWS, POLICIES AND PRACTICE AND APPELLATE CASE LAW. WE ALSO SECURE MEDIA COVERAGE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISTRICT'S SUCCESSES AND FAILURES IN MEETING CHILDREN'S NEEDS. WHETHER IT IS ENSURING APPELLATE CASELAW PROVIDES CONCRETE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO EVALUATE THE HARM OF REMOVAL WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER TO PLACE A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE, SECURING HISTORIC SPECIAL EDUCATION REFORMS, PRESSING AGENCIES TO BETTER PREPARE OLDER YOUTH WHO AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE OR IMPROVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN DC SCHOOLS OUR POLICY AND APPELLATE ADVOCACY DELIVERS REAL RESULTS THAT HAVE IMPROVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN'S LIVES.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.