Childrens Dental Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE CHILDREN'S DENTAL CENTER IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING DENTAL DISEASE AND PROMOTING OVERALL HEALTH BY PROVIDING A DENTAL HOME FOR UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL AND COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND TREATMENT SERVICES.THE COMMUNITY DENTAL CENTER OF GREATER LOS ANGELES ("TCDC"), A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1995, CONTINUES TO MAKE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORAL DISEASE IN UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. TCDC IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL FOR THE DELIVERY OF COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTIVE, EDUCATION, AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, DENTALLY UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 28
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 81% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 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.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (1)
- $1.1 million spent. PREVENTION - PROVIDED ORAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND THE PLACEMENT OF PROTECTIVE SEALANTS AND FLOURIDES TO APPROXIMATELY 7,300 PATIENTS.TREATMENT - PROVIDED EXAMINATIONS, X-RAYS, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT PLANS, CLEANINGS, RESTORATIONS (FILLINGS), IMPLANTS, AS WELL AS ORTHODONTIC CARE (BRACES), ENDONTIC CARE (ROOT CANALS), AND ORAL SURGERY (EXTRACTIONS) TO APPROXIMATELY 7,000 PATIENTS.TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT SERVICES, A CHILD MUST BE 18 YEARS OR YOUNGER, IN SCHOOL (IF OF SCHOOL AGE), MUST QUALIFY AS DENTALLY UNDERSERVED OR DENTALLY UNINSURED, LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH ONE OF MORE WORKING PARENTS/GUARDIANS, AND A FAMILY INCOME NO GREATER THAN 2.5 TIMES THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. A PERSON OR FAMILY MAY ALSO BE ENROLLED IN DENTI-CAL, HEALTHY FAMILIES, ETC. ACCEPTABLE PROOF OF INCOME (MOST RECENT TAX RETURN OR PAYCHECK STUB) IS REQUESTED AT THE TIME OF ENROLLMENT AND THEN AGAIN EVERY SIX OR 12 MONTHS.THE CENTER INCLUDES THE SMILE STORE, WITH 11 FULLY EQUIPPED, CHILD FRIENDLY OPERATORIES, EACH WITH NEWLY INSTALLED DENTAL CHAIRS AND TELEVISION MONITORS. IN ADDITION, INTRA-ORAL WIRELESS CAMERAS AND THE LATEST DENTAL MATERIALS ASSURE THAT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE POSSIBLE IS BEING PROVIDED TO EACH PATIENT. TO SERVE THE NEARLY 900 CHILDREN, AND GROWING, IN NEED EACH MONTH, OUR STAFF OF DENTISTS, HYGIENISTS SUPERVISORS, AND DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS FROM UCLA, USC, WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE, AND CERRITOS COLLEGE. AS A DENTAL LEARNING FACILITY, OVER 1000 ORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DENTAL STUDENT HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE CENTER'S DOORS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 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 December 2024.
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 August 1995.
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.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: The Childrens Center Inc (Bethany, OK), EIN 73-0580264. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.