Buckner Children and Family Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE FOR THE SPIRITUAL, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH SERVICES OF CARE AND HOUSING FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT, COUNSELING FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ASSISTANCE AND CHARITABLE GIVING
- Income
- $35.7 million
- Spending
- $42.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 320
- Volunteers
- 2,197
- Highest pay
- $768,624, president & ceo
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: 50 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (4)
- $11.1 million spent. IN 2024, THE FAMILY HOPE CENTERS SERVED 27,630 INDIVIDUALS IN TEXAS AND 34,986 INDIVIDUALS INTERNATIONALLY WITH FAMILY STRENGTHENING SUPPORT INCLUDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT EVENTS, EQUIPPING CLASSES, AND PERSONALIZED FAMILY COACHING.
- $10.2 million spent. BUCKNER CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, INC. (BCFS) SERVED 448 CHILDREN THROUGH ITS FOSTER CARE PROGRAM AND FACILITATED 89 ADOPTIONS THROUGH THE CPS WAITING TEXAS CHILDREN, FOSTER-TO-ADOPT, AND DOMESTIC INFANT ADOPTION PROGRAMS.
- $4.7 million spent. BCFS SERVED 161 FAMILIES THROUGH OUR FAMILY PATHWAYS PROGRAM SERVING 570 CHILDREN AND PARENTS. THE FAMILY PATHWAYS PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING FOR SINGLE PARENTS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. RESIDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN AN ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL OR REHABILITATION PROGRAM. ASSISTANCE WITH CHILDCARE IS ALSO PROVIDED FOR RESIDENTS' CHILDREN.
- $8.6 million spent. BCFS SERVED OVER 12,000 CLIENTS THROUGH OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL, TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS, RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, ADOPTION PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1995.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.