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Kind to Kids Foundation

EIN 80-0641000 · Newark, DE

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

KIND TO KIDS FOUNDATION PROVIDES LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION AND ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE DURING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES IN THEIR LIVES. THROUGH OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS--INCLUDING UGRAD ACADEMY, LIFESKILLS, AND MY BLUE DUFFEL--WE OFFER TRAUMA-INFORMED ACADEMIC ADVOCACY, EMERGENCY RESOURCES, AND CONSISTENT, CARING RELATIONSHIPS THAT HELP CHILDREN HEAL, GROW, AND SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. BASED IN DELAWARE, KIND TO KIDS SERVES CHILDREN FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE WITH COMPASSION, DIGNITY, AND PROVEN RESULTS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BECOMING A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL LEADER IN FOSTER CARE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
12
Volunteers
80
Highest pay
$120,964, president & founder

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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 12 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

    9 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (2)
  1. $761,786 spent. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSKIND TO KIDS FOUNDATION DELIVERS TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS. OUR SIGNATURE SERVICES--UGRAD ACADEMY AND LIFESKILLS--PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, REAL-WORLD SKILL-BUILDING, AND CARING GUIDANCE TO HELP STUDENTS OVERCOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.UGRAD ACADEMYUGRAD ACADEMY IS A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH COLLEGE. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ADVANCE TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL, GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL, OR CAREER. EACH STUDENT RECEIVES ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT THROUGH SCHOOL VISITS, ADVOCACY, TUTORING COORDINATION, AND PLANNING FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.A CORNELL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH STUDY FOUND THAT UGRAD ACADEMY ACHIEVES A 97% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE--ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION FOR FOSTER YOUTH--COMPARED TO 53% IN DELAWARE AND 56% NATIONALLY (KIDSCOUNTDE, 2024). UGRAD ACADEMY IS THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN DELAWARE DESIGNED TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOUTH THROUGH THE AGING-OUT PROCESS AND INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD, PROVIDING CONSISTENT ENCOURAGEMENT AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.LIFESKILLSLIFESKILLS IS A STRUCTURED SKILL-BUILDING PROGRAM THAT TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES, FORM POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. DESIGNED FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND THOSE FACING ADVERSITY, THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES EMOTIONAL AWARENESS, COMMUNICATION, JOB READINESS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. OUTCOME EVALUATIONS SHOW THAT 95% OF PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATE GROWTH IN KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATION OF KEY LIFE SKILLS. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, WORK, AND LIFE.
  2. $30,961 spent. HELP-A-KID PROGRAMSKIND TO KIDS FOUNDATION PROVIDES TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE ACROSS DELAWARE THROUGH ITS HELP-A-KID PROGRAMS. THESE SERVICES REACH OVER 600 CHILDREN ANNUALLY, ADDRESSING URGENT NEEDS AND CREATING MOMENTS OF COMFORT, DIGNITY, AND CARE DURING TIMES OF CRISIS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE:MY BLUE DUFFELTHE MY BLUE DUFFEL PROGRAM PROVIDES EMERGENCY CARE KITS TO CHILDREN ENTERING FOSTER CARE DUE TO ABUSE, NEGLECT, OR OTHER TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. EACH DUFFEL INCLUDES A TEDDY BEAR, FLEECE BLANKET, COZY SOCKS, THERAPEUTIC BOOK, JOURNAL, COLORING BOOK AND CRAYONS, WRITING SUPPLIES, AND TOILETRIES--ITEMS SELECTED TO BRING COMFORT AND COMPASSION TO A CHILD IN CRISIS. THESE DUFFELS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES (DFS) SOCIAL WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, ENSURING DELAWARE'S MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED DURING A DIFFICULT TRANSITION. OVER 500 CHILDREN RECEIVE A MY BLUE DUFFEL EACH YEAR.HOLIDAY AND BIRTHDAY KINDNESSHOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS CAN BE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE FEEL REMEMBERED AND CELEBRATED DURING THESE MILESTONES. EACH YEAR, KIND TO KIDS PROVIDES OVER $15,000 IN GIFTS AND BOOKS TO MORE THAN 150 CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. WITH HELP FROM 80+ COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE DELIVER PERSONALIZED GIFTS FOR BIRTHDAYS AND MEANINGFUL PRESENTS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON--OFTEN THE ONLY GIFTS A CHILD RECEIVES. THESE EFFORTS HELP FOSTER A SENSE OF JOY, BELONGING, AND CARE DURING PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN A CHILD'S LIFE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2011.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.