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Association for Guidance Aid Placement & Empathy

EIN 62-0760716 · Nashville, TN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STRENGTHEN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH THE HEALING LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$6.9 million
Spending
$6.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 43%
Employees
84
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$187,498, executive di

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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

    9 of 9 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 (5)
  1. $2.1 million spent. FOSTER CARE, FOSTER HOME CERTIFICATION: AGAPE PROVIDES SAFE, STABLE, CARING FOSTER HOMES FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE REFERRED TO AGAPE BY THE TN DEPT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES. AGAPE ALSO ACCEPTS VOLUNTARY PLACEMENTS WHEN PARENTS OR LEGAL CUSTODIANS ARE IN CRISIS & CANNOT CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. PARENTAL REUNIFICATION WITH CHILDREN IS ALWAYS THE INITIAL PERMANENCY PLAN WHILE ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN. AGAPE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND ONGOING TRAINING FOR FOSTER PARENTS TO MEET EACH CHILD'S SPECIAL NEEDS. FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025, AGAPE PROVIDED 31,406 DAYS OF CARE TO 89 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. 46 FAMILIES HAVE COMPLETED PRE-SERVICE TRAINING AND WERE APPROVED FOSTER HOMES DURING FY25.
  2. $1.3 million spent. COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES: PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, TESTING, AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS, ADULTS, COUPLES AND FAMILIES NEEDING HELP WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES SUCH AS DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, GRIEF, MARITAL & RELATIONSHIP ISSUES, AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. AFFORDABILITY OF SERVICES IS ATTAINED THROUGH A SLIDING SCALE FEE SYSTEM AND THE ABILITY TO USE INSURANCE OR EAP BENEFITS IN MANY CASES, AS WELL AS THROUGH OTHER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH EMPLOYERS AND A NUMBER OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. AGAPE IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING TO THE COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025, AGAPE PROVIDED 9,864 COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 1,496 CLIENTS.
  3. $1.4 million spent. MORNING STAR SANCTUARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (MSS): MORNING STAR SANCTUARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY (MSS) EXISTS TO PROVIDE REFUGE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAVE FLED ABUSIVE SITUATIONS AND TO HELP EMPOWER THEM TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE THAT CONTROLS THEIR LIVES. THROUGH THE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM, MSS PROVIDES FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING ORDERS OF PROTECTION, SAFETY PLANNING AND DANGER ASSESSMENT TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025, 104 WOMEN, 66 CHILDREN, AND 8 MEN WERE SHELTERED WITH 5,266 BED NIGHTS PROVIDED. IN OUR COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM WE SERVED 505 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
  4. $204,242 spent. MATERNITY ASSISTANCE AND ADOPTION: CASE MANAGMENT IS OFFERED TO WOMEN WHOSE PREGNANCY HAS CAUSED ADDITIONAL STRESS OR COMPLICATIONS. AGAPE PROVIDES SUPPORT, ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND COUNSELING TO ASSIST WOMEN IN DEVELOPING AN INFORMED PLAN THAT WILL EITHER ENABLE HER TO PARENT OR TO PLAN FOR ADOPTION. FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025, 24 PREGNANT WOMEN WERE SERVED IN AGAPE'S MATERNITY PROGRAM. ONE PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM CHOSE ADOPTION FOR HER CHILD. AGAPE ASSISTED WITH THE ADOPTION PROCESS FOR THIS CHILD ALONG WITH 15 CHILDREN IN AGAPE'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM THAT THE COURTS DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION.
  5. MATERNITY ASSISTANCE AND ADOPTION: CASE MANAGMENT IS OFFERED TO WOMEN WHOSE PREGNANCY HAS CAUSED ADDITIONAL STRESS OR COMPLICATIONS. AGAPE PROVIDES SUPPORT, ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND COUNSELING TO ASSIST WOMEN IN DEVELOPING AN INFORMED PLAN THAT WILL EITHER ENABLE HER TO PARENT OR TO PLAN FOR ADOPTION. FROM JULY 2024 THROUGH JUNE 2025, 24 PREGNANT WOMEN WERE SERVED IN AGAPE'S MATERNITY PROGRAM. ONE PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM CHOSE ADOPTION FOR HER CHILD. AGAPE ASSISTED WITH THE ADOPTION PROCESS FOR THIS CHILD ALONG WITH 15 CHILDREN IN AGAPE'S FOSTER CARE PROGRAM THAT THE COURTS DEEMED ELIGIBLE FOR ADOPTION.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 November 1966.

    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.

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