CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1969

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

STARSKY WILSON

Phone

2026623622

Tax Period

2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND, founded in 1969, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $20.2M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue decreased 16% compared to the prior year. Expenses of $33.5M exceeded revenue, resulting in a 66% operating deficit.

Mission

THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND'S MISSION IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY SO YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY. TO REALIZE THIS VISION, CDF PURSUES A MOVEMENT-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY TO BUILD POWER FOR CHILD-CENTERED PUBLIC POLICY INFORMED BY RACIAL EQUITY AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. CDF SERVES AND ADVOCATES FOR THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSE GENERATION IN AMERICA: THE 74 MILLION CHILDREN AND YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND 30 MILLION YOUNG ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 25, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. CDF IS THE ONLY NATIONAL, MULTI-ISSUE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHILD WELL-BEING AND RACIAL JUSTICE BY WIELDING THE MORAL AUTHORITY OF PROGRAMMATIC PROXIMITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $8,652,070 Revenue: $0

POLICY/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...

POLICY/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.

Program 2

Expenses: $8,418,563 Revenue: $0

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - IDENTIFIED AND TRAINED CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS NATIONWIDE TO BE LEADERS AND ADVOCATES FOR THE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT CHILDREN NEED TO THRIVE. DELIVERED...

YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - 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.

Program 3

Expenses: $6,439,640 Revenue: $5,179,225

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...

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.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $15,017,044

Program Service Revenue $5,075,544

Investment Income $291,619

Other Revenue $-221,118

TOTAL REVENUE $20,163,089

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $3,528,440

Salaries & Benefits $13,876,379

Fundraising Expenses $2,387,060

Program Expenses $23,510,273

Other Expenses $16,087,056

TOTAL EXPENSES $33,491,875

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2023	2022	Change
Revenue	$20,163,089	$23,874,522	-0.2%
Expenses	$33,491,875	$28,045,615	+0.2%
Net Income	$-13,328,786	$-4,171,093	+2.2%

Key Indicators

✓ Grants to Organizations ✓ Grants to Individuals ✓ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✗ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

296

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✓ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✓ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$1,019,405

Total Directors

$455,988

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
ANGELA GLOVER BLACKWELL	CHAIR	5.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
MARTIN RODGERS	TREASURER	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LAN BENTSEN	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ZACHARY BOYERS	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
LAPHONZA BUTLER	CHAIR	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
MALAAK COMPTON-ROCK	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CAROL BIONDI	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DON DARIUS BUTLER	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DEBORAH COGUT	SECRETARY	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DEBORAH JEWELL-SHERMAN	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
DD EISENBERG	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
CARMEN ROJAS	BOD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STARSKY WILSON	PRESIDENT/CEO	35.00	Officer Director	$325,450	$9,750	$335,200
MARIAN EDELMAN	PRESIDENT EMERITA	35.00	Officer Director	$120,764	$24	$120,788
SHERI BRADY	VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY AND PROGRAM	35.00	Officer	$200,690	$6,000	$206,690
SHAMIR SHAHI	CHIEF OF STAFF	35.00	Officer	$29,337	$877	$30,214
AUDREY JOHNSON	VP OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT	35.00	Officer	$191,290	$5,700	$196,990
RANDY MARSH	VICE PRESIDENT OPERATIONS	35.00	Officer	$125,922	$3,601	$129,523
THOMAS HARVEY	CALIFORNIA STATE DIRECTOR AND NATIONAL LITIGATION	35.00	Highest	$189,959	$7,328	$197,287
KERCENA DOZIER	NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR	35.00	Highest	$166,568	$4,988	$171,556
OLETA FITZGERALD	DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL OFC	35.00	Highest	$168,483	$4,980	$173,463
ROBERT FARRACE	NATIONAL DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS	35.00	Highest	$157,864	$2,674	$160,538
KRISTAL CLEMONS	NATIONAL DIRECTOR, CDF FREEDOM SCHOOLS	35.00	Highest	$157,248	$4,526	$161,774

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2024	No data	No data	No data	No data
2023	$20,163,089	$33,491,875	$55,754,565	$-13,328,786
2023	$23,484,456	$34,275,209	$57,617,574	$-10,790,753
2022	$23,874,522	$28,045,615	$58,320,035	$-4,171,093
2022	$17,509,448	$28,336,010	$54,348,376	$-10,826,562
2021	$43,799,827	$21,490,351	$55,357,932	$22,309,476
2021	$12,572,840	$5,094,751	$63,282,994	$7,478,089
2021	$43,799,827	$21,490,351	$55,357,932	$22,309,476
2020	$20,431,589	$19,978,433	$31,955,054	$453,156