Overview

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Est.

1969

Latest Fiscal Year

Not available

Organization Type

Grantseeker

AI Summary

The Children's Defense Fund is a national nonprofit focused on antidiscrimination and children’s rights, with a mission to ensure every child has a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, and a moral start in life; it is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in California, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee. In filing year 2024, it reported an operating budget of $27.9M and total revenue of $24M, with major support from funders including The Chicago Community Trust, ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION, THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, and NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION; no single funder listed accounts for 50% or more of total revenue.

Mission Statement

THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND'S MISSION IS TO LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND AND TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD A HEALTHY START, A HEAD START, A FAIR START, AND A MORAL START IN LIFE AND SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE TO ADULTHOOD WITH THE HELP OF CARING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. WE ARE A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH OUR HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND OFFICES IN CALIFORNIA, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, NEW YORK, OHIO, SOUTH CAROLINA, TEXAS AND TENNESSEE.
Revenues
$24M
Expenses
$34.9M
Net Income:
-$10.9M
Assets
$40.1M
Liabilities
$12.4M
Net Assets:
+$27.7M
Operating Budget
$27.9M
Operating Budget by Year

Due Diligence

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Charity Verification Snapshot
IRS EO Business Master File Status
Listed as tax-exempt
IRS Pub 78 Status
Eligible for tax-deductible gifts
IRS Revocation Status
Not in Automatic Revocation of Exemption List
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Total No. of Grants
68
Median grant size
$24.5K
Largest grant received
$1M
S
Starsky Wilson
Board Member
M
Marian Edelman
Board Member
M
Martin Rodgers
Board Member

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND’s budget?
In 2024, CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND reported an annual operating budget of around $27.9 million. More detailed financial information is available to registered users.
What causes does CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND support?
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND supports work in Children's rights and Antidiscrimination.
Where does CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND operate?
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Who funded CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND recently?
In 2025, CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND received grants from CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER, and AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC. More information on this organization’s funders is available to registered users.
What is the largest grant CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND received in 2024?
The largest grant to CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND in 2024 exceeds $1 million.
What is CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND’s reliance on government grants?
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND relied on government grants for more than 5% of their total revenue in 2024.