Kidlinks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
KIDLINKS' MISSION IS LINKING KIDS TO HEALTH AND HEALING THROUGH MUSIC AND MEDIA.
- Income
- $722,672
- Spending
- $781,653
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- other income, 58%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $103,639, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 63 out of 100.
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 37 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $51,192 spent. MUSIC THERAPY (MT) USES MUSIC TO ACHIEVE NON-MUSICAL GOALS, SUCH AS IMPROVING SPEECH/LANGUAGE AND MOTOR SKILLS, MANAGING PAIN OR ANXIETY, AND/OR SUPPORTING SOCIALIZATION AND SELF-EXPRESSION. KIDLINKS MT INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TREATMENT PLAN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS AND GOALS OF THE CHILD/CLIENT. WE OFFER UP TO 24 FREE (FULLY SUBSIDIZED) SESSIONS TO EACH CLIENT FAMILY WITH A BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST, AND SESSION FEES THEREAFTER ARE BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE DEPENDING ON THE FAMILY'S INCOME LEVEL. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 4 TOTAL MT CLINIC LOCATIONS: 2 HOME PRACTICES IN ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH, 1 IN MIDLOTHIAN AT BRIDGES TRAINING FOUNDATION, AND THE MUSIC THERAPY CLINIC ON THE CAMPUS OF SMU (THROUGH OUR J.W. BROWN MUSIC THERAPIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM).
- $30,375 spent. THERAPEUTIC MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (TME) IS DEFINED AS "A MUSICAL ACTIVITY OR PERFORMANCE WHICH, BY THE VIRTUE OF ITS DIVERSION, AMUSEMENT AND/OR PLEASING QUALITIES, SUPPORTS AND ENCOURAGES HEALING." KIDLINKS PROVIDES TME TO HOSPITALS, SPECIAL CARE CENTERS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DFW AREA. OUR TME TEAM WORKS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EMOTIONS CAN BE EXPRESSED IN POSITIVE WAYS, SELF-ESTEEM IS FOSTERED, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES ARE CELEBRATED. WE GIVE CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELAX, BE SILLY, HAVE FUN, AND TO HEAL.
- $491,246 spent. ON OUR WEBSITE AT KIDLINKS.ORG, WE PROVIDE STREAMING ACCESS TO OVER 250 SONGS, VIDEOS, ANIMATIONS, AND MUSIC THERAPY RESOURCES 24-7, FREE OF CHARGE, AND ACCESSIBLE FROM ANY COMPUTER, IPAD, OR PHONE. ALL OF THE MUSICAL CONTENT IS VETTED BY A REVIEW TEAM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, ENSURING THAT THE LYRICS AND MESSAGING ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN. THESE DIGITAL RESOURCES ARE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS, QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND MUSIC THERAPY PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 1982.
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.