Child Development Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $3.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -2.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 83%
- Employees
- 77
- Volunteers
- 265
- Highest pay
- $120,213, 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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 29 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 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 (3)
- $2.2 million spent. FREE PREVENTION PROGRAMS - CDI OWNS AND OPERATES TWO EARLY LEARNING CENTERS (ELC) IN CANOGA PARK AND RESEDA, CALIFORNIA. THE ELCS ARE FREE PLAY AND LEARNING SPACES OPEN TO ALL CHILDREN AGES 0-6 AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH ACTIVITIES PROMOTING HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, AND CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE ELC IS STAFFED WITH CDI ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE PLAY AND LEARN STATIONS AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ARE FACILITATED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS THROUGH SERVICE-LEARNING AGREEMENTS WITH MULTIPLE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING MANY SENIOR CITIZENS, VOLUNTEER REGULARLY AT THE ELC. THE ELC ALSO SERVES AS A SPACE TO OFFER NATURAL ENVIRONMENT EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES BY CDI AND OTHER COMMUNITY THERAPISTS AND FAMILIES.
- $741,957 spent. THERAPEUTIC SERVICES - CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE PROVIDES A RANGE OF EARLY INTERVENTION THERAPEUTIC SERVICES THAT INCLUDE: ASSESSMENTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, CHILD, TEEN & FAMILY COUNSELING, FEEDING THERAPY, GROUPS & CLASSES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY/SENSORY INTEGRATION, PHYSICAL THERAPY, SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES AND SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY. CDI'S PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS WORK WITH CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL AND TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL BY SUPPORTING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL, LANGUAGE, COGNITIVE AND MOTOR DEVELOPMENT.
- $80,088 spent. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING - CDI PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS AND CONSULTATIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONALS AND SCHOOLS WHO WORK WITH YOUNG CHILDREN THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. CDI'S MULTIDISCIPLINARY TRAINING TEAM COVERS SEVERAL TOPICS RELATED TO EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING; CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, EARLY INTERVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH, REFLECTIVE PRACTICE, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTENING FAMILIES AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.
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 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.
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.