Arizonas Children Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF ARIZONA'S CHILDREN ASSOCIATION IS TO PROTECT CHILDREN, EMPOWER YOUTH, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES.
- Income
- $17.0 million
- Spending
- $20.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 77%
- Employees
- 613
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $324,370, medical director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 165% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 35% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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 (3)
- $8.6 million spent. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SPECIALTY SERVICE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A WIDE CONTINUUM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR STRENGTH-BASED SERVICES ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN HEIGHTENING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND GUIDING THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY TRAUMA AND ABUSE THROUGH THE HEALING PROCESS. PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ADDRESS CURRENT NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY UNIT. OUTPATIENT SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO BE A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION THAT CAN ASSIST IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE AND RESILIENCY. WE UTILIZE THE CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM (CFT) PROCESS AND INCORPORATE THE PRINCIPLES FROM THE ARIZONA VISION. SERVICES INCLUDE INTAKE ASSESSMENTS, CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, PARENTING SUPPORT/TRAINING, BIRTH-5 SERVICES, AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. OUR LAS FAMILIAS PROGRAM, A TRAUMA SPECIALTY SERVICE PROGRAM, IS THE ONLY ONE IN PIMA COUNTY THAT SPECIALIZES EXCLUSIVELY IN THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE. WE PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR SURVIVORS TO GAIN STRENGTH, LEARN COPING SKILLS AND DEVELOP TRUSTING, CARING RELATIONSHIPS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT SEXUAL ABUSE TREATMENT IS NOT JUST FOR THE SURVIVOR, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THIS PRACTICE PROMOTES HEALING, STRENGTH, TRUST, AND THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A NEW BEGINNING. ARIZONA'S CHILDREN ASSOCIATION (AZCA) PROVIDES ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING USING THE NEUROSEQUENTIAL MODEL OF THERAPEUTICS (NMT) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILD TRAUMA ACADEMY. DEVELOPED BY DR. BRUCE PERRY, NMT IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, "TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND BRAIN-BASED APPROACH TO CLINICAL PROBLEM SOLVING. NMT RECOGNIZES THAT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS A SEQUENTIAL PATTERN AND INCORPORATES CURRENT RESEARCH REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF ADVERSE EXPERIENCES ON A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH NMT, A MODEL IS PROVIDED TO ASSESS NEUROLOGICAL DISORGANIZATION AND HELP IDENTIFY DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS.
- $4.0 million spent. CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS SEEK TO PROVIDE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND PERMANENT HOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN. WE TRAIN AND SUPPORT FOSTER CARE FAMILIES WHO CAN OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHILE THEIR BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES ARE ON THE MEND. WE ALSO COLLABORATE WITH ADOPTION PLACING AGENCIES TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF ADOPTION RELATED SERVICES FOR THOSE SEEKING TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY, PRIVATELY AND FROM THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. OUR KINSHIP PROGRAMS HELP SUPPORT THESE VERY SPECIAL FAMILIES AND THEIR POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL FOSTER CARE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CHILDREN IN KINSHIP CARE EXPERIENCE GREATER STABILITY THAN THOSE IN TRADITIONAL FOSTER CARE. KINSHIP CAREGIVERS PROVIDE LOVE AND SUPPORT IN A FAMILIAR SETTING, ALLOWING CHILDREN TO REMAIN CONNECTED WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE ABLE TO LIVE WITH PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND TRUST, THEREBY REINFORCING THEIR SENSE OF CULTURAL IDENTITY AND WELL-BEING. SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD (STA) SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO AID FOSTER CARE YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 21 WHO HAVE OR WILL BE TRANSITIONING OUT OF ARIZONA STATE OR TRIBAL FOSTER CARE. WE PROVIDE SKILLS AND SUPPORT TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENCE EACH YEAR BY ASSISTING THEM IN GAINING SKILLS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIONS IS AN ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM INTERVENTION, WHICH WORKS TO ENGAGE YOUTH LIVING IN CONGREGATE CARE BY IDENTIFYING CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN THEIR LIFE. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CHILD/YOUTH CURRENTLY LIVING IN CONGREGATE CARE IN ADDITION TO REDUCING THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY SPEND IN CONGREGATE CARE. THIS PROGRAM SEEKS TO IDENTIFY FAMILY-LIKE SETTINGS, OR PERMANENT PLACEMENT OPTIONS AND INCREASE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING.
- $3.3 million spent. PREVENTION SERVICES ARE COMPRISED OF EDUCATION, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE EARLY YEARS ARE CRUCIAL TO LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S LIFE SUCCESS. FROM CLASSES FOR PARENTS OF NEWBORNS TO WORKSHOPS ON EARLY INFANT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, OUR PROGRAMS HELP NEW AND EXPERIENCED PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. OUR PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, STRENGTHS BASED AND EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM. PARENTS AS TEACHERS IS A HOME VISITATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP NEW AND EXPERIENCED PARENTS FROM PREGNANCY UNTIL THEIR CHILD ENTERS KINDERGARTEN. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE EARLY YEARS ARE CRUCIAL TO LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S LIFE SUCCESSES. WE BELIEVE THAT PARENTS ARE THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS. OUR FAMILY EDUCATION & SUPPORT SERVICES ARE A UNIQUE FAMILY RESOURCE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH TRAINING AND TOOLS TO PROMOTE THE OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY CHILD FROM BIRTH TO ADOLESCENCE. OUR PROGRAMS INCORPORATE BEST PRACTICE AND/OR EVIDENCE-BASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER. WE OFFER ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND AGE-APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS, POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS AND STRATEGIES, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A NETWORK OF PARENTING SUPPORT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 June 1945.
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.