Global Fund for Children
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDREN PARTNERS WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO HELP CHILDREN AND YOUTH REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND ADVANCE THEIR RIGHTS.
- Income
- $10.6 million
- Spending
- $12.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 89%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $327,494, co-ceo, us
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
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 21% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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 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)
- $9.9 million spent. GRANTMAKING:THE GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDREN (GFC) IDENTIFIES AND INVESTS IN COURAGEOUS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVANCE CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD. RUN BY DEDICATED LOCAL LEADERS, THESE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE FACING POVERTY AND INJUSTICE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. GFC'S GOAL IS TO HELP THESE ORGANIZATIONS DEEPEN THEIR IMPACT AND BUILD THEIR CAPACITY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. OUR PARTNERS CONNECT THROUGH OUR INITIATIVES TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, FUEL ADVOCACY, AND BUILD MOVEMENTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE. WE HELP ACTIVATE AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON A RANGE OF ISSUES IMPACTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH, INCLUDING ACCESS TO HOLISTIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, FOSTERING NEW SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NORMS, MIGRATION, GENDER EQUITY, TRAFFICKING PREVENTION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
- $537,960 spent. COMMUNICATIONS:THROUGH ITS COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH, GFC USES DIGITAL MEDIA, VIDEO, PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORIES TO TELL ABOUT ITS EFFORTS DEDICATED TO DISCOVERING, FUNDING, AND COACHING TRULY COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT EMPOWER CHILDREN AND YOUTH. BY USING ITS WEBSITE, ONLINE OUTREACH AND SOCIAL MEDIA, GFC HIGHLIGHTS ITS ABILITY TO TAKE SMART RISKS THAT OTHERS WON'T, PARTNERING WITH INNOVATIVE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS RUN BY DEDICATED LOCAL LEADERS, OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS SHIFT SOCIAL NORMS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES TO FOSTER LASTING CHANGE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. BY PAIRING FLEXIBLE FUNDING WITH TARGETED CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WE HELP OUR PARTNERS GROW STRONGER AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO CHALLENGES ON THE GROUND. WE ALSO CENTER YOUNG PEOPLE AS LEADERS AND CHANGEMAKERS: MORE THAN A THIRD OF OUR PARTNERS ARE YOUTH-LED. GFC CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT COMMUNITY LEADERS WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
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
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 June 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 February 1994.
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.
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.