CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FIRST

EIN 51-0065731 · Human Services (P30Z)

What they do

CHILDREN & FAMILIES FIRST HAS HELPED NEEDY CHILDREN and FAMILIES IN DELAWARE for MORE THAN 125 YEARS. ANNUALLY, THE ORGANIZATION SERVES MORE THAN 30,000 INDIVIDUALS STATEWIDE THROUGH 30+ PROGRAMS THAT OFFER ASSISTANCE and SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN. THE ORGANIZATIONS SERVICES ARE CHILD-CENTERED and FAMILY-FOCUSED, FORMING A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM of QUALITY SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, and MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $88.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders42 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

87.84%of revenue went to mission work88.2% of expenses · Program services

0.91%of revenue went to fundraising0.9% of expenses

$99.54spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

10.79%of revenue went to management and office costs10.8% of expenses

$0.41in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

96.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $218,855 for KIRSTEN OLSON (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$32,472,627

Mission workProgram services$28,523,72587.84% of revenue88.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$3,504,56210.79% of revenue10.8% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$295,4650.91% of revenue0.9% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$148,8750.46% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$32,323,75299.54% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 88.2% mission · 10.8% management · 0.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.54% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 87.4% mission · 11.6% management · 1.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.15% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 87.3% mission · 11.7% management · 1.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.37% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 88.4% mission · 10.7% management · 0.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 103.38% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 88.2% mission · 10.4% management · 1.4% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.95% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 83.7% mission · 14.6% management · 1.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 101.28% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 83.3% mission · 14.6% management · 2.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.04% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 83.6% mission · 14.2% management · 2.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.53% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$32,472,627

Expenses$32,323,752

Annual surplus $148,875 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$28,523,725 · 88.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$3,504,562 · 10.8% of expenses

Fundraising$295,465 · 0.9% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$32,472,627

Expenses$32,323,752

Assets$13,339,609

Income$32,523,608

Contributions$31,449,018

Mission work (program services)$28,523,725

Fundraising$295,465

Grants given$2,997,301

Average grant$16,934

Management and general$3,504,562

Executive compensation (total)$692,647

Stocks and bonds$360,711

Accounting fees$113,116

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

KIRSTEN OLSONCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $218,855Base $202,891 · Other $15,964

BRIAN MAXWELLCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER · 35 hrs/week $170,101Base $161,729 · Other $8,372

TAM DEFERCHIEF LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER · 38 hrs/week $144,251Base $121,255 · Other $22,996

JULIUS MULLENCHIEF INCLUSION OFFICER · 38 hrs/week $131,636Base $107,632 · Other $24,004

BRENDA SMITHCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-INTERVENTION · 38 hrs/week $128,974Base $101,750 · Other $27,224

ZAKIYA BAKARI-GRIFFINCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-PREVENTION · 38 hrs/week $127,457Base $104,760 · Other $22,697

KIERA MCGILLVRAYCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS · 38 hrs/week $110,718Base $106,885 · Other $3,833

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (42)

KIRSTEN OLSONCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

BRIAN MAXWELLCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

TAM DEFERCHIEF LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

JULIUS MULLENCHIEF INCLUSION OFFICER

BRENDA SMITHCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-INTERVENTION

ZAKIYA BAKARI-GRIFFINCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-PREVENTION

KIERA MCGILLVRAYCHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

TOM COLLINSMEMBER

SHERRY BRILLIANTVICE CHAIR

SHAUNA MCINTOSHMEMBER

RANIE GOODMEMBER

PETER LUTUSMEMBER

PEG KATESMEMBER

PAUL MCCOMMONSTREASURER

NICOLE MAGNUSSONMEMBER

NANCY KARIBJANIANMEMBER

N CHRISTOPHER GRIFFITHSMEMBER

MARY BORGERMEMBER

TONY LEWISMEMBER

KATY CONNOLLYMEMBER

KATERA Y MOOREMEMBER

JOHN PIERSON IIIMEMBER

GINA SCHOENBERGMEMBER

BILL BOWLSBEYMEMBER

CASEY MCCABEASSISTANT TREASURER

CINDY BOMEMBER

CLARK COLLINSMEMBER

DAVE SWEENEYMEMBER

DON BROWNMEMBER

ELLEN LEVINMEMBER

EVAN PARKMEMBER

GAYLE DILLMANMEMBER

JOSHUA A BUSHWELLERMEMBER

HEATHER OCONNELLMEMBER

HEC MALDONADO-REISMEMBER

JAMES G KLABEMEMBER

JANICE ROWE TIGANIMEMBER

JEANANA LLOYDSECRETARY

JEFFREY SILLSCHAIR

JOHN COLLINSMEMBER

JOHN KELSOMEMBER

ALEX HANNAHMEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1938
Location: 555 JUSTISON STREET SUITE 150, WILMINGTON, DE 19801
County: New Castle
In care of: KIMBERLY KLEIN
Primary officer: KIMBERLY KLEIN, CFO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emaildevelopment@cffde.org Phone(302) 658-5177

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: January 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: GUNNIP & COMPANY LLP
NTEE classification: Human Services (P30Z)
IRS tax category: Child and Youth Services
Grant-giving organization: Yes