California Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To advance and advocate for an equitable early childhood support system for all California families by working at the intersection of research, programs, and policy in partnership with member Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (R&Rs) and human service organizations statewide.
- Income
- $7.5 million
- Spending
- $7.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 13.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 43
- Highest pay
- $213,331, executive dir.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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
0 of 7Reports no 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 June 30, 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)
- $2.3 million spent. My Child Care Plan: The Network contracts with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to operate MyChildCarePlan.org, a search and support website designed to provide California's families with the information they need to make the best possible child care choices for their children. The site offers a highly customizable child care search tool and live support from local experts to help families find child care that meets their family's unique needs. With MyChildCarePlan.org, families can access the information they need to find childcare they can trust, and providers can easily promote their services to families who need them.
- $2.0 million spent. Provider Services: The Provider Services department supported all 69 R&R programs in strengthening their capacity and work with all home-based child care providers. The program foci are to establish and increase access to quality child care (slots), strengthen the viability and efficacy of programs, and implement trauma informed practices. This is accomplished through ongoing technical assistance, communities of practice, conferences, outreach and recruitment tools, online and in person trainings, shared resources websites, and a range of comprehensive multilingual curricula that includes, but is not limited to: playgroup and training for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (informal) Caregivers; health and safety training; family child care business; dual language learners; and trauma informed care for all home-based child care providers and navigators.
- $1.3 million spent. Member Services accomplishments include:In fiscal year 2024-25 the Network supported the statewide Child Care Resource & Referral infrastructure to strengthen their services by coordinating opportunities for members to share and learn about best practices, engage in productive relationships with the California Department of Social Services Child Care and Development and Child Care Licensing Divisions, and other statewide partners that impact families, the child care workforce and community wellbeing. The Network gathered, compiled and analyzed data from local Child Care Resource & Referral agencies to inform partners and policymakers about the statewide child care landscape. Our statewide system helped to strengthen and sustain the child care infrastructure in California through consumer education, information on child care options and how to find and afford child care, and technical assistance and support for the child care workforce.
- $1.2 million spent. Trustline/Consumer Education: TrustLine is a background check for in-home and license exempt child care providers. From July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025, the staff responded to 8,616 calls to the 800 TrustLine number. We sent status information to local agencies for 19,940 individuals that were cleared on TrustLine and 1,732 individuals that were closed or denied registration.As part of our work for the Consumer Education program, we provided information and referrals to parents and others seeking child care information using a toll free number. There were 8,730 calls to the automated portion of the Consumer Education 800 number that connects callers with their local child care resource and referral program. Staff spoke to 1,402 callers and responded to 490 chats on our website.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 March 1980.
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.