Memphis Child Advocacy Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION IS TO SERVE CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL AND SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE THROUGH PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND INTERVENTION.
- Income
- $3.0 million
- Spending
- $2.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 24.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 51%
- Employees
- 26
- Volunteers
- 175
- Highest pay
- $151,151, executive 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 57% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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 (1)
- $2.4 million spent. THE MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC) SUPPORTS SAFETY FOR CHILDREN THROUGH PREVENTION, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND A TEAM APPROACH TO HEALING AND JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE.THE SHELBY COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM (CPIT) IS HEADQUARTERED AT THE MEMPHIS CAC. CPIT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT; ALL SHELBY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; SHELBY COUNTY CRIME VICTIMS AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER; LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL; AND JUVENILE COURT. THE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVIEW, INVESTIGATION, TREATMENT, AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE. IN FY25, CPIT REVIEWED 3,524 REPORTED CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND OTHER SEVERE ABUSE. MEMPHIS CAC FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS USE A NATIONALLY ACCEPTED PROTOCOL WHEN INTERVIEWING CHILDREN AFTER REPORTED ABUSE. THE FACTFINDING INTERVIEWS ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, UNBIASED, AND LEGALLY SOUND. IN FY25, THE MEMPHIS CAC CONDUCTED FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WITH 621 CHILDREN. EACH DIGITALLY RECORDED INTERVIEW WAS OBSERVED IN REAL TIME BY INVESTIGATORS VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION.IN FY25, MEMPHIS CAC THERAPISTS HELD 1,723 SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND CAREGIVERS. THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDES TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND OTHER EVIDENCE BASED THERAPIES. OUTCOME EVALUATION INDICATES THAT MEMPHIS CAC THERAPY SERVICES RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN WHO COMPLETE THERAPY. EVALUATION ALSO SHOWS THAT PARENTS/CAREGIVERS FEEL BETTER EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT THEIR CHILD.MEMPHIS CAC FAMILY ADVOCATES ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION TO CAC SERVICES, ASSIST WITH CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION APPLICATIONS, ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE LEGAL SYSTEM. IN FY25, CAC FAMILY ADVOCATES WORKED WITH 621 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 460 CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES.IN ADDITION TO CRITICAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED, THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDES PREVENTION SERVICES. IN FY25, THE MEMPHIS CAC PROVIDED STEWARDS OF CHILDREN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TRAINING TO 1,028 SHELBY COUNTY ADULTS. THE TRAINING IS RESEARCH INFORMED. IT IS DESIGNED FOR PARENTS AND ADULTS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS, AND YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS. SINCE 2011, OVER 31,000 UNDUPLICATED SHELBY COUNTY ADULTS HAVE TAKEN THE TRAINING. SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATE TRAINEES SHOW SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT PROTECT CHILDREN. THE MEMPHIS CAC ALSO OFFERS POLICY WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATION FOR YOUTH-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS.THE MEMPHIS CAC WAS ONE OF FIRST 25 CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS TO OPEN IN THE U.S.-NOW THERE ARE OVER 950. THE CAC WAS CERTIFIED AS A CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AGENCY BY THE STATE OF TENNESSEE IN 2001. A FULL MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE SINCE 1992, THE CENTER MEETS THE RIGOROUS MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS AND WAS REACCREDITED IN 2025. RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE AN UPDATED SHELBY COUNTY CHILD PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION TEAM (CPIT) PROTOCOL. ON DECEMBER 3, 2025, THE UPDATED PROTOCOL WAS SIGNED BY LEADERS OF THE 15 CPIT AGENCIES INCLUDING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, LE BONHEUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE TN DEPT. OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SHELBY COUNTY, AND OTHER AGENCIES.THE PREVENTION TOWN HALL ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 WAS ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DECISION MAKERS FROM THE FAITH COMMUNITY, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BEST PRACTICE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT THE MEMPHIS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER, VISIT MEMPHISCAC.ORG.
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 October 13, 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 November 1987.
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 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.