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Think of US

EIN 82-1157215 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO HELP YOUTH AND FAMILIES HEAL, DEVELOP AND THRIVE.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$14.6 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 74%
Employees
63
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$376,908, 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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 81% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 7 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $2.7 million spent. "VIRTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES (VSS) IS A TECH-ENABLED RESOURCE NAVIGATION MODEL THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE AND CAREGIVERS QUICKLY FIND AND ACCESS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. THROUGH VSS, USERS CAN SEARCH AND APPLY FOR SUPPORT BASED ON THEIR PRIORITIES, URGENCY, AND PREFERENCES-BACKED BY A TEAM OF LOCALLY BASED COMMUNITY RESPONDERS WHO GUIDE THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. SINCE 2021, THINK OF US HAS USED VSS IN CALIFORNIA, GEORGIA, AND THE GREATER BOSTON AREA TO EMPOWER TRANSITION-AGE FOSTER YOUTH, KIN CAREGIVERS, RESOURCE FAMILIES, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES TO MEET IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS AND BUILD TOWARD LONG-TERM SUCCESS. USERS CAN REQUEST SUPPORT AND CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY RESPONDERS VIA TEXT, CHAT, EMAIL, OR PHONE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS, IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS, AND HANDLE TIME-CONSUMING ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS SUCH AS RESEARCH, PAPERWORK, AND FOLLOW-UP. IN 2024, TOU RESPONDED TO 5,841 REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF 1,827 FAMILIES- HELPING THEM ACCESS OVER $ 28.9 MILLION IN RESOURCES.
  2. $2.4 million spent. THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE (CLE) - A GROUNDBREAKING PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, PROXIMATE POLICY, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING INITIATIVE - INTEGRATES THE INSIGHTS, DATA, AND LEADERSHIP OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO RE-ARCHITECT THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. WE PUBLISH GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH, WORK WITH CITIES, STATES, AND TRIBES TO CO-DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS TO LONG-STANDING CHALLENGES, AND ADVISE FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY MAKERS ON EFFECTIVE, BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS. THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE STRIVES TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND THEIR INSIGHTS, DRIVE AN ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE CHILD AND FAMILY WELLBEING SYSTEM. BY BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF LIVED EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHERE LIVED EXPERTISE IS FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE FUNCTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF SYSTEMS, THE CENTER SEEKS TO MAKE LIVED EXPERIENCE A CORE ELEMENT OF SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT RESULTS IN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS. THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS A HUB FOR DEVELOPING THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND PRACTICES THAT INTEGRATE LIVED EXPERTISE INTO THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. A BRIDGE BETWEEN THEORY AND PRACTICE, THE CENTER WORKS WITH BOTH INDIVIDUALS LIVED EXPERTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BUILD COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CAPACITY BUILDING AND CONSULTING SERVICES. IN 2024, 2,886 YOUTH, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM PARTICIPATED IN OUR RESEARCH STUDIES, SURVEYS AND IN- PERSON ENGAGEMENTS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. OUR SYSTEMS CHANGE LAB LEVERAGES OUR RESEARCH AND DESIGN METHOD - ROOTED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN-CENTERED PROBLEM-SOLVING THAT POWERS THE PRIVATE SECTOR - TO DRIVE INNOVATION. PARTNERS HAVE LITTLE CAPACITY TO DESIGN AND TEST NEW SOLUTIONS. AS A RESULT, IT CAN TAKE DECADES FOR RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICY. WE ACCELERATE THIS PROCESS BY BRINGING NIMBLE AND RESPONSIVE RESEARCH AND DESIGN CAPABILITIES TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
  4. $5.1 million spent. OTHER PROGRAMS - GENERAL PROGRAMS, LOBBYING, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY.

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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.