Committee for Children
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
TO FOSTER THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN THROUGH SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
- Income
- $35.8 million
- Spending
- $37.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- -4.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 179
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $442,846, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal 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 140% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 March 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 (4)
- $12.6 million spent. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING NEW PROGRAMS, ENHANCING EXISTING PROGRAMS, AND DEVELOPING TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION. UTILIZING RESEARCH, PROTOTYPING, FIELD TESTING, ADVISORY GROUPS, AND CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK TO ENSURE PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT, RELEVANCE, AND HIGH IMPLEMENTATION FIDELITY. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ACHIEVEMENTS) 1. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT GOAL: TO DEVELOP AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND AFFIRMING PROGRAMS THAT EXTEND HUMAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT INTO MULTIPLE SETTINGS. IN 2024, WE SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCED OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND AFFIRMING PROGRAMMING THROUGH MAJOR UPDATES TO OUR SECOND STEP DIGITAL PROGRAMS ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS, INCLUDING THE LAUNCH OF A FULLY REIMAGINED SECOND STEP HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED: - LAUNCH OF SECOND STEP HIGH SCHOOL: DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF ADOLESCENTS, THIS PROGRAM USES A WHOLE-SCHOOL MODEL WITH THEMATIC PATHWAYS AND COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND FAMILIES. - NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL UNIT ON IDENTITY AND AGENCY ACROSS THREE GRADE LEVELS: DEVELOPING A POSITIVE SENSE OF SELF HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE SELF-CONCEPT, CONFIDENCE, AND PERSONAL AGENCY. - ENHANCED CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS: UPDATED MEDIA AND LESSON CONTENT ACROSS K-12 PROGRAMS REFLECT GREATER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY, IMPROVING REPRESENTATION AND RELEVANCE. - EXPANDED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: NEW MULTILINGUAL RESOURCES AND ACCESS PORTALS SUPPORT SEL LEARNING AT HOME. - INCREASED STUDENT VOICE AND CHOICE: LESSONS NOW INCLUDE MORE OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS, PEER COLLABORATION, AND REAL STUDENT PERSPECTIVES TO FOSTER DEEPER ENGAGEMENT. THESE DEVELOPMENTS ENSURE THAT OUR SEL PROGRAMS ARE NOT ONLY EVIDENCE-BASED BUT ALSO AFFIRM STUDENTS' IDENTITIES AND EXTEND LEARNING INTO CLASSROOMS, HOMES, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS. 2. PROGRAM IMPACT GOAL: TO INCREASE OUR PROGRAM'S IMPACT BY APPLYING MULTIPLE STRATEGIES AND IN CONSULTATION WITH EXTERNAL EXPERTS ALONG WITH OUR INTERNAL RESEARCH TEAM. IN 2024, WE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAM'S REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY THAT COMBINED INTERNAL RESEARCH, EXTERNAL CONSULTATION, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. A MAJOR HIGHLIGHT OF THIS EFFORT WAS THE LAUNCH OF THE NEWLY DESIGNED SECOND STEP HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH COMPLETES OUR K-12 SEL CONTINUUM AND INTRODUCES A WHOLE-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT MODEL TAILORED TO ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - EXPANDED EDUCATOR AND STUDENT RESOURCES: NEW TOOLS INCLUDE A PROGRAM MODEL VIDEO, KICK-OFF POWERPOINT, AND ALIGNMENT CHARTS FOR COLLEGE AND WORKFORCE READINESS AND ASCA STANDARDS. - FAMILY AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT: NEW FAMILY ACCESS FEATURES AND STUDENT EXTENSION ACTIVITIES (E.G., DEBATES, DISCUSSIONS, CREATIVE COLLABORATION) SUPPORT LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. - ANNUAL PROGRAM RESET AND UPDATE: ENSURES EDUCATORS BEGIN EACH YEAR WITH REFRESHED DASHBOARDS AND THE LATEST CONTENT. - ENHANCED DATA TOOLS: LAUNCH VIEW AND MONITOR VIEW DASHBOARDS, ALONG WITH EXPORTABLE IMPLEMENTATION DATA, PROVIDE ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS. - ALIGNMENT WITH NATIONAL FRAMEWORKS: CONTINUED ALIGNMENT WITH CASEL, ASCA, AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ENSURES OUR PROGRAMS REMAIN EVIDENCE-BASED AND RELEVANT. THESE STRATEGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS ENSURE OUR PROGRAMS ARE NOT ONLY GROUNDED IN RESEARCH BUT ALSO RESPONSIVE TO THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS. BY INTEGRATING ASSESSMENT, IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT, AND WHOLE-SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT, WE ARE MAXIMIZING THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF HUMAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ACROSS DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. 3. PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT GOAL: TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND CFC'S REACH AND IMPACT. COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN DEVELOPED SEVERAL PARTNERSHIPS THIS YEAR TO EXPAND OUR REACH AND IMPACT. - WE WORKED WITH OXFORD TO BRING TOGETHER SCHOLARS FOCUSING ON GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND YOUTH WELLBEING TO EXPLORE HOW THE TWO DOMAINS INTERRELATE. - WE COLLABORATED WITH RIVERSIDE TO ALIGN ITEMS FROM THE DESSA (DEVEREUX STUDENT STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT) WITH OUR CURRICULUM. THIS ALIGNMENT ENABLES EDUCATORS TO EVALUATE STUDENTS' SEL COMPETENCIES WITH GREATER PRECISION AND TO USE ASSESSMENT DATA TO GUIDE INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS AND SUPPORT. THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS ALLOWED CFC TO IMPROVE REACH AND IMPACT BY INCREASING OUR OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SCHOOLS. WE PARTNERED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL RECORDS BUREAU, WHICH HELPS PROVIDE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITH EDUCATION MATERIALS. THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS INCREASED OUR REACH INTO THE PRIVATE SCHOOL SETTING. - WE PARTNERED WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO CUSTOMIZE MISSION-ALIGNED SOLUTIONS THAT ARE TAILORED TO BEST SERVE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
- $7.1 million spent. TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION: PROVIDING CONSULTATION, TRAINING, AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT TO CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS FOCUSED ON THE SUCCESSFUL REACH AND IMPACT OF CFC PROGRAMS. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ACHIEVEMENTS.) 1. TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT GOAL: TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, EFFICIENT, AND ACCESSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORTS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL REACH AND IMPACT OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE IMPROVED OUR IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORTS BY IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING NEW STRATEGIES AND TOOLS: - DEVELOPED NEW IMPLEMENTATION VIDEOS, WEBINARS, MESSAGING, CHECK-IN SCHEDULE, AND RESOURCES. - DEVELOPED SIX NEW TRAINING WORKSHOPS TO IMPROVE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION - DEVELOPED NEW WHOLE-SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS: LEADERS AND EDUCATORS GAINED ACCESS TO NEW PLANNING SUPPORTS, PACING TOOLS, AND DASHBOARDS FOR TRACKING PROGRESS AND FIDELITY. 2. IMPLEMENTATION GOAL: TO STRENGTHEN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION FIDELITY THROUGH CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND DATA-DRIVEN STRATEGIES, WHILE ASSESSING AND REFINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORTS. WE SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED OUR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCES: - REDESIGNED IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE AND NAVIGATION (K-8): LAUNCHED A MORE INTUITIVE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR SECOND STEP K-8, FEATURING IMPROVED NAVIGATION AND USER EXPERIENCE WHILE ACCESSING ESSENTIAL PLANNING AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS. - IMPROVED ACCESS TO KEY RESOURCES (K-8): UPDATED IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE INCLUDES DIRECT NAVIGATION TO IMPLEMENTATION PLAYBOOK, KEY ARTICLES, AND DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SEAMLESS INTEGRATION. - LAUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING PLAN: TAILORED IMPLEMENTATION AND TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SCHOOL LEADERS AND EDUCATORS IN ROLLING OUT THE NEW PROGRAM EFFECTIVELY. ADDED NEW HIGH SCHOOL DATA DASHBOARD TO THE SECOND STEP SUITE OF LEADER DASHBOARDS TO TRACK FIDELITY AND MEASURE IMPACT. 3. PROGRAM EVALUATION GOAL: TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE CONDUCTED FOUR STUDIES OF THE SECOND STEP K-8 PROGRAM. THE STUDIES, EACH WITH SAMPLE SIZES GREATER THAN 4,000 STUDENTS, HAVE SHOWN STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES FOR BOTH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS. FOR THE ELEMENTARY PROGRAM, THE OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - ACADEMIC MOTIVATION - PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR - PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT - SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS - REDUCTION IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM, THE OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - CARING RELATIONSHIPS - OVERALL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT - ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS - REDUCTION IN OFFICE DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS - REDUCTION IN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS - REDUCTION IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS - TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS
- $4.9 million spent. COMMUNITY EDUCATION: EDUCATING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, FAMILIES, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY ABOUT DEVELOPING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, BULLYING PREVENTION, AND PERSONAL SAFETY FOR CHILDREN THROUGH CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS, SPEECHES, COMMUNITY-AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, MEDIA OUTREACH, AND PRINTED AND WEB-BASED MATERIALS. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ACHIEVEMENTS.) 1. COMMUNITY OUTREACH GOAL: TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF HUMAN SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION, AND BULLYING PREVENTION THROUGH MEDIA OUTREACH, POLICY AND ADVOCACY, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS. - ADDED CHANNELS TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO IMPROVE REACH. - ADDED BLOGS TO THE SECONSTEP.ORG TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF SEL AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STRENGTHENING THESE SKILLS FOR CHILDREN. - SECURED TWO HIGH-IMPACT MEDIA RESOURCES ON CIVIL DISCOURSE AND SEL IN KOMO NEWS (PRIMETIME TV, 1.75 MILLION UVM) AND, KUOW (SEATTLE'S NPR STATION, 330K UVM). 2. CONFERENCES, PRESENTATIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS GOAL: TO DISSEMINATE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, BULLYING PREVENTION, AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION. - PUBLISHED AN OP-ED FROM THE CEO ON CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN ESCHOOL NEWS (500K UVM), OFFERING ACTIONABLE K-12 SOLUTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. - ATTENDED AND PRESENTED AT SEVERAL NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CONFERENCES, INCLUDING AMLE, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS WORK IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHICH HAS OVER 30,000 MEMBERS. WE ALSO PRESENTED AT ASCA AND CASEL EXCHANGE WITH OVER 3,000 ATTENDEES REGARDING POLICY UPDATES AND RESEARCH-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL BEST PRACTICES FOR SEL. - HOSTED A NATIONAL WEBINAR WITH OVER 800 REGISTRANTS ON THE TOPIC: "STRENGTHENING HUMAN SKILLS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS: HOW DISTRICTS CAN MEET CRITICAL STUDENT NEEDS". 3. ADVOCACY GOAL: TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT POLICY AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS THAT SUPPORT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING. COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN HELPED INTRODUCE AND ADVANCE LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, AND COLORADO TO HELP ENABLE RESEARCH- AND EVIDENCE-BASED SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING, INCLUDING SUICIDE PREVENTION AND DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP LEGISLATION, IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN ADVOCATED FUNDS CONDUCIVE TO SUPPORTING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION.
- $2.7 million spent. 1. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION: RESEARCHING AREAS RELATED TO CFC PROGRAMS AND RECOMMENDING NEW PROGRAM DESIGN. CONDUCTING OR PARTNERING WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO CONDUCT EVALUATIONS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING CFC PROGRAMS. 2. PRODUCTION: ASSEMBLING AND DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS AND MAINTAINING AND MANAGING INVENTORY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 October 13, 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 March 2026.
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 October 1975.
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 October 21, 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.