Better Business Bureau

Charity Contact Information BBB Wise Giving Alliance Comments Programs

Tax Status Governance Fund Raising Financial

Name:	Children's Defense Fund
Address:	25 E Street NW
	Washington, DC 20001
Phone:	202-628-8787
Web Address:	www.childrensdefense.org

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

CDF collects and analyzes data, publishes reports, and conducts presentations and workshops on issues related to accessibility of affordable child care, prevention of violence, welfare reform, teenage pregnancy, health insurance coverage for children and other priority areas. Partnering with coalitions of local organizations active at the community level, CDF's Child Watch Visitation Program takes legislators, business executives, members of the clergy, and other civic leaders to sites ranging from neighborhood clinics and after school programs to day care centers and group homes for teen mothers. Staffed primarily by college-aged young adults, CDF's Freedom Schools, part of its Black Community Crusade for Children, offers six to eight week sessions for boys and girls age 5 to 18 to develop and nurture individual reading, conflict resolution, and social skills.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, CDF's program expenses were:

Leadership development and state and community capacity building	16,121,802
Public education, media campaigns, Internet outreach and publications	3,524,787
Policy and program development and implementation	1,825,855
Total Program Expenses:	$21,472,444

Chief Executive : Marian Wright Edelman, President

Compensation*:

$109,340

Highest Paid Executive: Kristin May, Chief Financial Officer
Compensation*: $110,597

Chair of the Board: Geoffrey Canada, Acting Chair
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: President and CEO, Harlem Children's Zone

Co-Chair of the Board : Angela Blackwell

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Founder and CEO, PolicyLink

Board Size: 26

Paid Staff Size: 185

*2007 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:

Direct mail, telemarketing, special events, grant proposals, Internet appeals, planned giving, and cause-related marketing.

Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $20,324,157, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on CDF's audited financial statements (consolidated with its affiliate) for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Source of Funds
Foundations and corporations	14,926,934
Individuals	3,676,230
Realized and unrealized gains, net of mgr fees	1,878,431
Training Fees	1,419,586
Special events	1,291,436
Endowment interest and dividends	751,932
Miscellaneous	437,555
Organizations and groups	429,557
Sales of publications and merchandise	115,768
Haley Farm Fees	97,146
Operating	78,585
Total Income	$25,103,160

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 83%  Fund Raising: 8%  Administrative: 9%

Total income				$25,103,160
	Program expenses			$21,472,444
	Fund raising expenses			2,160,052
	Administrative expenses			2,230,867
Total expenses				$25,863,363
Expenses in Excess of Income				(760,203)
Beginning net assets				48,061,707
Ending net assets				47,301,504
Total liabilities				8,477,830
Total assets				$55,779,334

Note: CDF's affiliate, Children's Defense Fund Action Council, is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions and membership dues to the Children's Defense Fund Action Council are not deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.