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Child First Authority Inc

EIN 52-1992391 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF CHILD FIRST IS TO DEVELOP YOUTH AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND PARENT LEADERSHIP.

Income
$3.7 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
147
Volunteers
400
Highest pay
$136,358, deputy director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 19% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 June 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 (2)
  1. $1.4 million spent. OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) PROGRAMMING AT CHILD FIRST AUTHORITY IS A RESEARCH-INFORMED STRATEGY THAT EXTENDS LEARNING BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY, PROVIDING SAFE AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE STUDENTS GROW ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. OST PROGRAMS REINFORCE CLASSROOM LEARNING WHILE OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPLORATION, SKILL-BUILDING, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.AT CHILD FIRST AUTHORITY, OST PROGRAMS SERVE AS A STRUCTURED PLATFORM FOR COORDINATING ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT, AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN ALIGNMENT WITH SCHOOL-DAY GOALS. PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO SUCCESS SUCH AS LEARNING LOSS, LIMITED ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT, AND LACK OF SAFE AFTERSCHOOL OPTIONS. EACH SITE IS LED BY A PROGRAM COORDINATOR WHO MANAGES DAILY OPERATIONS, SUPPORTS STAFF, AND USES DATA TO GUIDE PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT. ADDITIONAL SITE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS INCLUDE AN ACADEMIC COORDINATOR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING AND SUPPORTING ALL COMPONENT OF THE ACADEMIC PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, ALONG WITH A PARENT INVESTMENT COORDINATOR WHO CULTIVATES RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS AND STRENGTHENS FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.CORE COMPONENTS INCLUDE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP, ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENTS GAIN ACCESS TO HANDS-ON LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD NEW SKILLS.BY PROVIDING CONSISTENT AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES DURING OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS, OST PROGRAMS IMPROVE ATTENDANCE, STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND PROMOTE POSITIVE YOUTH OUTCOMES WHILE ADVANCING EQUITY IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
  2. $1.4 million spent. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE A RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGY THAT TRANSFORMS SCHOOLS INTO NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS WHERE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ACCESS INTEGRATED ACADEMIC, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS. AT CHILD FIRST AUTHORITY, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS OPERATE AS THE "OPERATING SYSTEM" FOR COORDINATING PARTNERSHIPS, ALIGNING RESOURCES, AND ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO LEARNING SUCH AS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, UNMET HEALTH NEEDS, AND FAMILY INSTABILITY. EACH SCHOOL IS STAFFED WITH A COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR WHO LEADS DATA-DRIVEN PLANNING, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND PARTNER ALIGNMENT TO DELIVER TARGETED SUPPORTS. CORE COMPONENTS INCLUDE EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS, AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP. BY LEVERAGING SCHOOLS AS TRUSTED ANCHORS, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IMPROVE ATTENDANCE, ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, AND OVERALL WELL-BEING WHILE ADVANCING EQUITY IN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 March 1997.

    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.