Child Poverty Action Lab
Child Poverty Action Lab reported $16.7 million in revenue and $16.8 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $86.13 went to program services, $10.71 to management and general costs and $3.16 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 92.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $335,743 (President & CEO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 544% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 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 $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 86.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.7% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 92.6% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 1.2% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.9% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $335,743 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.00% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.8 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 16 | 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 expenseCPAL operates as an unofficial research and development department for Dallas, rethinking how data can be integrated into public systems, community programs, and neighborhood life to break cycles of intergenerational poverty. Guided by evidence, CPAL focuses on impactful strategies aligned with five 'big bets' for driving economic mobility: Benefits Delivery, Maternal Health, Housing, Criminal Justice, and Safety
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $309,250 | $0 | $26,493 | $335,743 |
| SR. DIRECTOR Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $195,708 | $0 | $41,383 | $237,091 |
| CHIEF EXTERNAL OFFICER Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $177,947 | $0 | $57,052 | $234,999 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $189,773 | $0 | $20,527 | $210,300 |
| SR ADVISOR Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $170,872 | $0 | $36,415 | $207,287 |
| CHIEF OF HOUSING Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,178 | $0 | $40,431 | $196,609 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $136,837 | $0 | $39,530 | $176,367 |
| SR DIR of MH Listed in Part VII, 40.00 hrs/week | $149,211 | $0 | $18,491 | $167,702 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Child Poverty Action Lab (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $978K (Part IX, line 5).
7 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–1b16 · 16 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14No
- 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 561
- Volunteers Part I, line 620
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SEVENTEENTH ADDITION LLC Mgmt consulting | $803,877 |
| JANUARY ADVISORS Consulting | $715,506 |
| 2C STRATEGIES LLC Consulting/project mgmt | $489,745 |
| THE BRIDGESPAN GROUP Consulting | $483,258 |
| LASALLE NETWORK Staffing/recruiting | $346,254 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 16 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Child Poverty Action Lab totaling $1.8M 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 Poverty Action Lab'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 Poverty Action Lab, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Child Poverty Action Lab spent in 2025, $86.13 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Council of Spanish Speaking OrganizationsPhiladelphia, PA · revenue $17M · programs 93.8% · FY2025
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- Sonoma Valley Community Health CenterSonoma, CA · revenue $17M · programs 79.9% · 2024
- Gateway Counseling CenterBronx, NY · revenue $17M · programs 89.0% · FY2025
- Community Services OfficesHot Springs, AR · revenue $17M · programs 87.6% · FY2024
Questions people ask
How much of Child Poverty Action Lab's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Child Poverty Action Lab reported that 86.1% of its $16.8 million in expenses went to program services, 10.7% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Child Poverty Action Lab pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Child Poverty Action Lab reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $335,743, for the role of President & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Child Poverty Action Lab get its money?
Of $16.7 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 92.6% came from contributions and grants (including 1.2% from government grants) and 3.9% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Child Poverty Action Lab a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-3863079 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 2019, 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 202641699349301674 · read the filing · XML
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532129349302003 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412009349300901 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202332929349301208 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202212989349301041 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102659349301430 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013189349313051 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-3863079: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.