Child Welfare Innovation
Also known as Foster America
Child Welfare Innovation reported $3.3 million in revenue and $7.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.38 went to program services, $13.39 to management and general costs and $7.23 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 66.8% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $246,507 (Senior VP of Programs). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 58% between 2020 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $7.3MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $3.3MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.4% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 13.4% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.24 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 66.8% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 29.6% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $246,507 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 3.38% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 12.5 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 9 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFoster America advanced work across the child and family well-being field by partnering with communities, public agencies, lived experts, and cross-sector leaders to strengthen how families are supported before unnecessary child welfare involvement occurs.In Colorado, Foster America supported partners in launching the 211 Warmline pilot, a voluntary pathway that gives mandated reporters an alternative to making a child protection report when a family's needs do not require investigation. Through the Warmline, callers can speak with a trained community navigator who connects families to local…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior VP of Programs Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $204,185 | $0 | $42,322 | $246,507 |
| Executive Director Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $213,098 | $0 | $25,310 | $238,408 |
| VP of Finance & Operations Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,804 | $0 | $41,567 | $222,371 |
| VP of Learning, Leadership & Culture Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $182,235 | $0 | $31,657 | $213,892 |
| VP of Dev. & Strategic Partnerships Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $199,440 | $0 | $11,547 | $210,987 |
| Past Dir. of Knowledge & Learning Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $166,074 | $0 | $25,411 | $191,485 |
| Past Dir. of Planning & Operations Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $174,492 | $0 | $7,688 | $182,180 |
| Director Director/trustee, 1.00 hrs/week | $62,113 | $0 | $0 | $62,113 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Child Welfare Innovation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $461K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b9 · 8 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 528
- Volunteers Part I, line 69
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| The Bridgespan Group Strategic Planning Services | $130,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 1 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to Child Welfare Innovation totaling $245K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Child Welfare Innovation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Child Welfare Innovation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Child Welfare Innovation spent in 2025, $79.38 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Houston Jewish Family FoundationHouston, TX · revenue $3.3M · programs 85.2% · 2024
- Alcona County Commission on AgingLincoln, MI · revenue $4.3M · programs 61.0% · FY2025
- Allied Community ResourcesEnfield, CT · revenue $3.3M · programs 85.0% · FY2025
- St Christopher'sNew York, NY · revenue $4.4M · programs 59.8% · FY2025
- HopehealthProvidence, RI · revenue $2.8M · programs 34.7% · FY2025
All human services charities · Largest charities in Massachusetts
Questions people ask
How much of Child Welfare Innovation's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Child Welfare Innovation reported that 79.4% of its $7.3 million in expenses went to program services, 13.4% to management and general and 7.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Child Welfare Innovation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Child Welfare Innovation reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $246,507, for the role of Senior VP of Programs (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Child Welfare Innovation get its money?
Of $3.3 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 66.8% came from contributions and grants and 29.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Child Welfare Innovation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-4011253 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202612159349300176 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503049349301920 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349313747 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202333199349310993 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233159349301783 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102429349300305 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-4011253: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.