Watson Childrens Shelter Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
WATSON CHILDREN'S SHELTER IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING A SAFE, NURTURING, ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT OR FAMILY CRISIS.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 24.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 52%
- Employees
- 79
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $137,628, executive director
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
Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 24.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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 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 (2)
- $1.8 million spent. THE SHELTER WAS FOUNDED IN 1977 AND PROVIDES SHELTER IN A SAFE, NURTURING HOME TO MONTANA CHILDREN, INFANT TO AGE 14, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, ABANDONMENT, OR FAMILY CRISIS. THE SHELTER PROVIDES A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE OPERATION OF TWO HOMES AND IS LICENSED UNDER THE REGULATIONS OF THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION. THE HOMES WELCOME OVER 100 CHILDREN ANNUALLY AND CAN WELCOME UP TO 16 CHILDREN AT ONE HOME AND 12 CHILDREN AT THE OTHER HOME. BOTH HOMES ARE BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND PROVIDE A SAFE, WELCOMING, HOMELIKE ATMOSPHERE. THE SHELTER ACCEPTS REFERRRALS AND PLACEMENTS FROM MONTANA DIVISION OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, TRIAL SOCIAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, YOUTH COURTS AND PRIVATE REFERRALS. THE SHELTER LEAD STAFF HOLD MASTER'S AND BACHELOR'S LEVEL DEGREES AND ALL STAFF COMPLETE OVER 30 HOURS OF ANNUAL TRAINING TO EFFECTIVELY CARE FOR CHILDREN FROM TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES.
- $274,326 spent. THE HEALTHY FOUNDATIONS HOME VISITING PROGRAM BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2018, AND IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH AT-RISK FAMILIES THAT PRESENT WITH VARIOUS HIGH-RISK FACTORS THAT ARE SHOWN TO BE DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE FAMILIES' HOMES AND CAN OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES EACH WEEK OR AS INFREQUENT AS ONCE PER MONTH. THE PROGRAM ACCEPTS REFERRALS FROM MANY SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. ELIGIBLE FAMILIES MUST BE PREGNANT OR WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. HEALTHY FOUNDATIONS HAS CAPACITY FOR 30-40 FAMILIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME DEPENDING ON THE FREQUENCY OF HOME VISITS REQUIRED FOR EACH FAMILY. FUNDING FOR HEALTHY FOUNDATIONS COMES FROM FUNDRAISING EVENTS, GRANTS, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.
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 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 June 2025.
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 September 1979.
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.