Voices for Children
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
VOICES FOR CHILDREN TRANSFORMS THE LIVES OF ABUSED CHILDREN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASAS).
- Income
- $8.6 million
- Spending
- $9.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 14.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 88
- Volunteers
- 1,294
- Highest pay
- $257,773, president/ceo
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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 14.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 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 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 (1)
- $6.9 million spent. VOICES FOR CHILDREN (VFC) RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND MANAGES OVER 900 VOLUNTEERS ANNUALLY TO SERVE AS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASAS) AND IS THE ONLY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DESIGNATED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE SUPERIOR COURTS OF SAN DIEGO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES TO PROVIDE THESE CASA SERVICES. VFC WAS FOUNDED IN 1980 IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND SINCE 2015, HAS ALSO OPERATED THE CASA PROGRAM FOR RIVERSIDE COUNTY. CASA VOLUNTEERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN AND INTERFACING WITH THE PROFESSIONALS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AND PROTECT THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE,NEGLECT, OR ABANDONMENT. CURRENTLY ALL OF THE NEARLY 2,500 CHILDREN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOSTER CARE RECEIVE ASSESSMENT SERVICES AND 1,734 CHILDREN IN URGENT NEED OF ADVOCACY WERE SERVED BY A CASA OR CASE LIAISON. IN ADDITION, 521 CHILDREN IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY ARE BEING SERVED BY CASAS. CASAS WORK CLOSELY WITH VFC STAFF TO PREPARE REPORTS FOR EACH JUVENILE COURT HEARING, AND DEVELOP APPROPRIATE ADVOCACY PLANS FOR THE CHILDREN. THIS INFORMATION HELPS SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES MAKE THE MOST INFORMED DECISIONS TO HELP EACH CHILD BE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL. IN ADDITION, THE CASE FILES OF ALL CHILDREN IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOSTER CARE ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY, AND THOUSANDS OF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN AND FILED THAT EVALUATE, UPDATE, AND PRIORITIZE CHILDREN'S CASES, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MATCHING THEM WITH TRAINED CASA VOLUNTEERS. IN FEBRUARY 2023, VFC BECAME THE DESIGNATED CASA PROGRAM FOR THE PECHANGA TRIBAL COURT.
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 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 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 December 1982.
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.