Dallas Childrens Advocacy Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ABUSED CHILDREN IN DALLAS COUNTY AND PROVIDE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ON CHILD ABUSE ISSUES.
- Income
- $14.7 million
- Spending
- $14.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 10 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 38%
- Employees
- 141
- Volunteers
- 463
- Highest pay
- $319,640, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2532 of 32 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 September 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)
- $5.0 million spent. INVESTIGATIVE AND SUPPORT SERVICES: DCAC PROVIDES CHILD-CENTERED FORENSIC AND FAMILY ADVOCACY SERVICES TO CHILDREN AFFECTED BY CRIMINAL ABUSE AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING FAMILY MEMBERS. SPECIALLY TRAINED FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS CONDUCT NEUTRAL, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE, AND LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE INTERVIEWS IN A SAFE SETTING, HELPING CHILDREN SHARE WHAT HAPPENED WHILE PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR STATEMENTS AND SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS. FAMILY ADVOCATES THEN WALK ALONGSIDE CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS THROUGHOUT THE INVESTIGATION, HEALING, AND LEGAL PROCESS. THEY EXPLAIN FAMILIES' RIGHTS, CONDUCT TRAUMA SCREENINGS, CONNECT CLIENTS TO THERAPY AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND HELP ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS THAT COULD OTHERWISE BECOME BARRIERS TO SAFETY, STABILITY, AND HEALING. ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO FAMILIES. DURING FY25, DCAC CONDUCTED 1,725 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS AND PROVIDED FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES TO 5,681 CLIENTS.
- $3.2 million spent. THERAPY: DCAC PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO HELP CHILDREN AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING FAMILY MEMBERS HEAL FROM THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE, SEVERE NEGLECT, TRAFFICKING, OR WITNESSING A VIOLENT CRIME. MASTER'S- AND DOCTORAL-LEVEL THERAPISTS AND CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS BASED ON EACH FAMILY'S NEEDS. SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP THERAPY, PARENTING SUPPORT, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED CLINICAL SERVICES PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THROUGH ACCESSIBLE CARE PROVIDED AT NO COST, DCAC HELPS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES PROCESS TRAUMA, DEVELOP HEALTHY COPING SKILLS, STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE, AND REGAIN A SENSE OF SAFETY, HOPE, AND STABILITY. DURING FY25, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMPLETED 14,902 HOURS OF THERAPY SERVICES AT DCAC.
- $3.0 million spent. EDUCATION: DCAC PROVIDES EVIDENCE-INFORMED EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO EQUIP PROFESSIONALS, CAREGIVERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE, REPORT, INVESTIGATE, PROSECUTE, TREAT, AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY LECTURE SERIES, SPECIALIZED CURRICULA, ON-DEMAND LEARNING, AND THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CONFERENCE. TRAINING ADDRESSES EMERGING TRENDS AND CRITICAL NEEDS IN CHILD PROTECTION, INCLUDING FORENSIC INTERVIEWING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ONLINE EXPLOITATION, CASE COORDINATION, AND SURVIVOR SUPPORT. BY SHARING PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND LEADING PRACTICES, DCAC STRENGTHENS THE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING CHILDREN AND HELPING SURVIVORS HEAL. THE 2025 CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER 4,716 ATTENDEES FROM ALL 50 STATES AND 19 COUNTRIES FOR 525 WORKSHOPS AND CASE STUDIES LED BY 252 EXPERT SPEAKERS.
- $1.3 million spent. DCAC SERVES AS THE COORDINATING HUB FOR THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO CRIMINAL CHILD ABUSE CASES IN DALLAS COUNTY. THE TEAM BRINGS TOGETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, PROSECUTORS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES TO COORDINATE INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, TREATMENT, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. DCAC REVIEWS NEW AND ONGOING CASES, INITIATES AND MONITORS REFERRALS, FACILITATES PRIORITY RESPONSES AND FORMAL CASE-REVIEW MEETINGS, AND HELPS ENSURE THAT PARTNERS FOLLOW THE AGREED INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL. THIS SEAMLESS TEAM APPROACH REDUCES DUPLICATION, PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY, STRENGTHENS CASE OUTCOMES, AND PROVIDES CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH A MORE COORDINATED AND LESS TRAUMATIC RESPONSE. DURING FY25, DCAC COORDINATED THE WORK OF MORE THAN 40 PARTNER AGENCIES SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT DALLAS COUNTY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 September 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 1990.
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.