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Children's Defense Fund
Children's Defense Fund reported $24.0 million in revenue and $34.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $73.18 went to program services, $20.45 to management and general costs and $6.37 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 80.7% of the total. Government grants made up 9.0%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $377,061 (PRESIDENT/CEO). 27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 17% between FY2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $35MFor context, the median across 132 covered civil rights, social action & advocacy charities: $84.11 programs, $11.40 management, $4.49 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $24M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$71.47 $17M
- Government grants$8.94 $2.2M
- Program service revenue$16.24 $3.9M
- Investment income$3.35 $806K
Other revenue was negative: −$78,492. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 73.2% | 82.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 20.4% | 11.1% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.4% | 4.4% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 80.7% | 94.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 9.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 16.3% | 0.3% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $377,061 | $321,771 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.08% | 1.81% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 27 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.5 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 8 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePolicy/advocacy for children - educated policy makers and the public on the policies and programs that improve the odds for poor Children and Children of color. Worked at the national, state and local levels to promote, implement and monitor key policy recommendations. Produced rigorous non-partisan research and reports on the factors that support children's well-being
Building a movement for youth - identified and trained children and young adults nationwide to be leaders and advocates for the supports and services that children need to thrive. Delivered empowering, multigenerational programming on social justice and civic action to young people, faith leaders and members of the broader community dedicated to addressing the needs of poor children in america
Cdf freedom schools - provided a high quality, research-based reading enrichment program for children and youth in underserved and impoverished communities. Fostered cultural pride and personal empowerment, academic confidence and belief in their ability to effect change in themselves, their communities and the world
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $366,711 | $0 | $10,350 | $377,061 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY & PROGRAM Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $200,742 | $0 | $6,450 | $207,192 |
| DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL OFFICE Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $155,443 | $0 | $5,164 | $160,607 |
| NATL DIR, MVMT BUILDING & PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $160,016 | $0 | $0 | $160,016 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $143,878 | $0 | $1,585 | $145,463 |
| NATIONAL DIRECTOR FREEDOM SCHOOLS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $137,642 | $0 | $4,670 | $142,312 |
| CONTROLLER TO OCTOBER 2024 Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $137,349 | $0 | $4,096 | $141,445 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR FREEDOM SCHOOLS Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $135,893 | $0 | $4,046 | $139,939 |
27 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Children's Defense Fund (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $845K (Part IX, line 5).
6 filings since FY2020
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b8 · 6 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 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5225
- Volunteers Part I, line 660
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SMG KNOXVILLE CONVENTION CENTER Professional services | $483,591 |
| CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP Professional services | $410,575 |
| CVENT INC Professional services | $249,847 |
| HANNA'S INC Professional services | $242,406 |
| SPITFIRE STRATEGIES LLC Professional services | $241,736 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 45 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
58 private foundations reported grants to Children's Defense Fund totaling $5.0M 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 Children's Defense Fund's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Children's Defense Fund, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Children's Defense Fund spent in 2024, $73.18 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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All civil rights, social action & advocacy charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Children's Defense Fund's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Children's Defense Fund reported that 73.2% of its $34.9 million in expenses went to program services, 20.4% to management and general and 6.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Children's Defense Fund pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Children's Defense Fund reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $377,061, for the role of PRESIDENT/CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Children's Defense Fund get its money?
Of $24.0 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 80.7% came from contributions and grants (including 9.0% from government grants) and 16.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Children's Defense Fund a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-0895622 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202543159349303449 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023 (amended), object 202502919349300100 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022 (amended), object 202502919349300000 · read the filing
- FY2021 (3 mo.): Form 990 for the 3-month short period ending December 31, 2021, object 202303199349332350 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021 (amended), object 202302199349301500 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202142259349302554 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-0895622: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.