National Association of Counsel for Children
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
NACC advances childrens and parents rights by supporting a diverse, inclusive community of child welfare lawyers to provide zealous legal representation and by advocating for equitable, anti-racist solutions co-designed by people with lived experience.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 61%
- Employees
- 19
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $159,144, executive director
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
Weak: 44 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 29% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $491,088 spent. PROMOTING EXCELLANCE: NACC promotes better outcomes for children and families impacted by the child welfare system by working to ensure lawyers who represent children, parents, and agencies provide high-quality legal representation. In 2024, NACC trained over 5000 attorneys and judges including through an online training course and 5 custom state trainings developed and delivered by national experts in the field. NACC also certified 31 new attorneys as Child Welfare Law Specilists. NACC also updated and delivered a second training series on the legal issues in cases involving infants and toddlers.
- $603,852 spent. BUILDING COMMUNITY: NACC builds communities of practice among child welfare legal professionals through our membership program, national conference, and online convenings. NACC convened over 725 practitioners in Salt Lake City and 400 more online for our 47th National Child Welfare Law Conference. NACCs State Coordinator program expanded to 40 states/jurisdictions. NACC expanded law school engagement, publishing a Child Welfare Law Career Guide, and hosted a Child Welfare Law Career Fair. NACC also convened and partnered with NACCs National Advisory Council on Childrens Legal Representation (NACCLR), a group of young professionals with lived experience in the child welfare system who advise NACC.
- $388,640 spent. PROMOTING JUSTICE: NACC provides a leading national voice on childrens legal advocacy. In 2024 NACC expanded the Counsel for Kids campaign website (https://counselforkids.org/), and advocacy toolkit. Children in court need lawyers of their own. Were working to make sure they have them.
- $225,447 spent. Other minor programs.
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 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 November 6, 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 December 2024.
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 December 1978.
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 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.