Cobbled Streets - Helping Homeless and Foster Kids Move Forward
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROVIDE CHILDREN IN FOSTER AND KINSHIP CARE WITH INDIVIDUALIZED EXPERIENCES AND ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES SO THEY CAN DISCOVER, CONNECT AND BELONG.
- Income
- $865,386
- Spending
- $809,896
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 99%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 140
- Highest pay
- $158,026, founder/exec
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
12 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, 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 (3)
- $407,802 spent. GUIDING LIGHTS - ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES: CHILD CENTERED OPPORTUNITIES - LIKE SPORTS, MUSIC, TUTORING, EQUINE THERAPY, CAMPS AND FAMILY OUTINGS; MATCHED TO A YOUNG PERSON'S UNIQUE INTEREST AND NEEDS. BEST PRACTICE & EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH CONFIRMS SUCH ACTIVITIES IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AND BEHAVIOR. THEY OFFER YOUTH A CHANCE TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, A SENSE OF BELONGING AND CONNECTION. 100% OF THE FOSTER/KINSHIP PARENTS AGREE THESE EXPERIENCES HELPED BUILD POSITIVE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE AS FOSTER/KINSHIP CARE PARENTS WITHOUT BURNING OUT. IN 2025, COBBLED STREETS PROVIDED 5,705 EXPERIENCES.
- $108,113 spent. AMBASSADOR PROJECT - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BE THE SOURCE, HAVE CREATED A NETWORK OF AMBASSADORS ACROSS 13 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS IN COLORADO. AMBASSADORS HOST LOCAL GATHERINGS, CREATING FUN WELCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT, LEARN, PLAY AND PARTICIPATE; CREATING COMMUNITIES THEY CAN TURN TO FOR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE, RATHER THAN FEELING ALONE AND ISOLATED. THESE EVENTS ARE CONSISTENT, SAFE SPACES WHERE FAMILIES CAN RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN, STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDING TRUST AND CONNECTING FAMILIES TO LOCAL RESOURCES. 3,612 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN COMMUNITY EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND 96% OF FOSTER/KINSHIP PARENTS SAY COBBLED STREETS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR SUPPORT NETWORK.
- $206,124 spent. OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS CONTINUE TO INFORM AND PUSH STAKEHOLDERS AND LAWMAKERS TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. OUR SHORT DOCUMENTARY CONTINUES TO BE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED; SHOWN ON PBS AND THROUGH YOUTUBE. SHARI SHINK, ED AND FOUNDER, HAS PUBLISHED 5 ARTICLES IN MAGAZINES AND NEWS PAPERS BOTH NATIONALLY AND IN COLORADO. WORK CONTINUES ON OUR FULL LENGTH DOCUMENTARY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 2025.
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 August 2020.
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.