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Child Care Aware of America

EIN 94-3060756 · Arlington, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CHILD CARE AWARE OF AMERICA (CCAOA) IS THE ONLY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS EVERY PART OF THE CHILD CARE SYSTEM. TOGETHER WITH AN ON-THE-GROUND NETWORK OF CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R) ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN STATES AND COMMUNITIES, CCAOA ADVANCES HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE AND TURNS A PATCHWORK OF RESOURCES INTO A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE BY: GROWING AND STRENGTHENING A NATIONAL NETWORK OF CCR&RS THAT DELIVER ON-THE-GROUND CHILD CARE SOLUTIONS FOR STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES; PRODUCING DATA, RESEARCH, AND REAL-WORLD INFORMATION GATHERED FROM OUR NETWORK IN STATES AND COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE EFFECTIVE PRACTICE AND POLICY; WORKING WITH POLICYMAKERS AND COMMUNITIES TO BUILD SOLUTIONS AND SPUR THEM TO TAKE ACTION; AND PROVIDING EXPERTISE AND DIRECT SERVICE TO MILITARY FAMILIES TO MEET THEIR CHILD CARE NEEDS AND SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. TOGETHER, WE MAKE CHILD CARE STRONGAND THAT MAKES EVERYONE STRONGER.

Income
$34.3 million
Spending
$32.1 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
252
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$424,691, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 67% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 (3)
  1. $21.6 million spent. MILITARY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS: CCAOA PARTNERS WITH THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO HELP MILITARY FAMILIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS INSTALLATION CHILD CARE. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, WE: HELP MILITARY FAMILIES FIND AND AFFORD QUALITY CHILD CARE; RECRUIT AND SUPPORT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND MATCH THEM WITH ELIGIBLE MILITARY FAMILIES; SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WITH IN-HOME RESPITE CHILD CARE; AND USE OUR RESEARCH, POLICY EXPERTISE, AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE SERVING MILITARY FAMILIES TO MAKE AMERICA'S CHILD CARE SYSTEM STRONG. OUR MILITARY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 22,000 FAMILIES AND 32,000 CHILDREN EACH YEAR THROUGH A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 18,000 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS.
  2. $2.3 million spent. RESEARCH, POLICY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: CCAOA PRODUCES DATA AND RESEARCH THAT DRIVE EFFECTIVE PRACTICE AND POLICY. WE SPUR POLICYMAKERS AND COMMUNITIES TO ACT AND BUILD SOLUTIONS. OUR RESEARCH INFORMS NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND SYSTEMS CHANGE, SUPPORTED BY KEY PUBLICATIONS. WE MOBILIZE OVER 14,000 DIGITAL ADVOCACY ACTIONS AND HELP SECURE NEW FEDERAL FUNDING MOST RECENTLY, $500 MILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDS. MORE THAN 96% OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPANTS REPORT INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
  3. $1.3 million spent. ON THE GROUND NETWORK: BUILD, GALVANIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR A NATIONAL NETWORK OF CCR&RS FROM 46 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT BUILD THE SUPPLY AND QUALITY OF CHILD CARE, GROW THE CHILD CARE WORKFORCE, HELP FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES SOLVE THEIR CHILD CARE CHALLENGES, AND DELIVER ON-THE-GROUND INFORMATION AND SOLUTIONS TO CHILD CARE DEMAND, SUPPLY AND QUALITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1988.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.