Polly Klaas Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 68 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE POLLY KLAAS FOUNDATION IS A PETALUMA, CA BASED, NATIONAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN, THE RECOVERY OF MISSING CHILDREN, AND PUBLIC POLICIES THAT KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $768,546
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- -4.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 82%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 28
- Highest pay
- $228,274, executive dir.
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
Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 42% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 68 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (4)
- $136,039 spent. POLLY KLAAS COMMUNITY THEATER-THE RENOVATION OF THE POLLY KLAAS COMMUNITY THEATER WAS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF 2022 AND HAS SINCE BEEN THE HOST TO SEVERAL YOUTH-BASED PERFORMING ARTISTS. THE DEMAND FOR THIS SPACE WAS HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND WE ARE DELIGHTED WITH ITS EARLY SUCCESS IN PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED SPACE FOR YOUTH-BASED PERFORMANCES AND AFTERSCHOOL THEATER THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY EDUCATION FORPROGRAMS.
- $122,618 spent. RESPONSE DEPARTMENT CASEWORK SERVICES -THE POLLY KLAAS FOUNDATION HAS ASSISTED OVER 10,000 FAMILIES AND HUNDREDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THEIR SEARCH FOR MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN. SINCE INCEPTION WE HAVE SEEN AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THOSE CHILDREN RETURN HOME SAFELY. THE RESPONSE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES FOR EACH TYPE OF MISSING CHILD CASE ALL OF WHICH ARE GEARED TOWARD THE RECOVERY AND SAFE RETURN OF THE CHILD.24 HOUR HOTLINE - STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WORK WITH FAMILIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.NATIONAL FLYER DISTRIBUTION - CASE-SPECIFIC FLYER DISTRIBUTION ANYWHERE IN THE NATION, WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS. DECISIONS ABOUT FLYER DISTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE AS A TEAM EFFORT BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION, THE LOCAL AND/OR NATIONAL MEDIA EXPOSURE - FURTHER EXPOSURE FOR A CASE IS ACHIEVED BY PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING PRESS RELEASES AND BY DOING LIVE OR TAPED RADIO, TELEVISION OR PRINT INTERVIEWS. WE HAVE ASSISTEDFAMILIES BY EITHER WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF WITH THE MEDIA OR BY COACHING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. INTAKE AND TRANSMISSION OF LEADS AND TIPS TO THE LEAD AGENCY - PUBLIC LEADS ARE IMMEDIATELY FORWARDED TO THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY. WE HAVESTRICT POLICIES REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY AND RELY SOLELY ON THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY TO DETERMINE THE NECESSITY OF FOLLOW-UP ON ANY LEAD.
- $74,550 spent. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY EDUCATION FOR MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATION ON HOW TO BE SAFE ONLINE. THE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW-MAKERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT LEGISLATION THAT KEEP CHILDREN SAFE.
- $64,919 spent. PREVENTION/EDUCATION - CHILD SAFETY KITS-THE CHILD SAFETY KIT IS THE FOUNDATION'S FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION AND THE PRINCIPAL VEHICLE FOR MISSION FULFILLMENT IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION AND ABDUCTION PREVENTION. THE KIT INCLUDES 28 PAGES OF POSITIVE, ENCOURAGING GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ON HOW TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO STAY SAFE "WITHOUT SCARING YOUR CHILD OR YOURSELF."BY COMMUNICATING A HOPEFUL MESSAGE TO PARENTS, THE CHILD SAFETY KIT UNBLOCKS THE PARALYZING FEAR OF STRANGER ABDUCTION, AND MODELS WAYS FOR PARENTS TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN HOW NOT TO GO MISSING OR, IF CHILDREN DO GET LOST OR SEPARATED, HOW TO ASK FOR HELP. THE CHILD SAFETY KIT GIVES PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL'S POWERFUL TEACHING TOOLS THAT STRONGLY SUPPORT FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNICATION.AS MEMEBERS OF THE SONOMA COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTS TRAININGS ON THE SEXUAL EXPLOTATION OF MINORS TO REGIONAL LAW ENFOREMENT AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOUNDATION HAS PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS OF TRAINING (PORT) CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS TO CREATE CURRICULUM AND ASSIT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED/AT-RISK RUNAWAYS AND MISSING CHILDREN.
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 1993.
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.