ARKANSAS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

ARKANSAS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

EIN 71-0492205 · Human Services (P010)

What they do

ADVOCATING for THE DEVELOPMENT and IMPLEMENTATION of DATA-DRIVEN PUBLIC POLICY THAT IMPROVES CHILD WELL-BEING IN ARKANSAS, WITH A FOCUS ON ECONOMIC SECURITY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, EARLY CHILDHOOD, CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, and RACIAL EQUITY.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $70.10 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 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

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

They name their leaders25 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

57.17%of revenue went to mission work70.1% of expenses · Program services

14.24%of revenue went to fundraising17.5% of expenses

$81.56spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

10.15%of revenue went to management and office costs12.4% of expenses

$1.52in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

98.9%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

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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 $173,770 for KEESA SMITH (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 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 2025

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$2,940,529

Mission workProgram services$1,680,99157.17% of revenue70.1% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$298,56410.15% of revenue12.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$418,74414.24% of revenue17.5% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$542,23018.44% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$2,398,29981.56% 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

2025CurrentExpense mix: 70.1% mission · 12.4% management · 17.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.56% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 71.1% mission · 11.4% management · 17.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 102.35% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 67.0% mission · 13.1% management · 20.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 81.10% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 67.1% mission · 12.7% management · 20.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 111.73% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 66.3% mission · 10.7% management · 23.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 65.32% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 64.7% mission · 11.1% management · 24.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.46% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 67.8% mission · 9.6% management · 22.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.78% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 72.7% mission · 10.1% management · 17.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 84.93% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$2,940,529

Expenses$2,398,299

Annual surplus $542,230 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)$1,680,991 · 70.1% of expenses

Management and office costs$298,564 · 12.4% of expenses

Fundraising$418,744 · 17.5% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$2,940,529

Expenses$2,398,299

Assets$3,633,503

Income$3,116,907

Contributions$2,906,768

Mission work (program services)$1,680,991

Fundraising$418,744

Management and general$298,564

Executive compensation (total)$147,827

Stocks and bonds$2,263,066

Accounting fees$38,152

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

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

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

KEESA SMITHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 38 hrs/week $173,770Base $156,384 · Other $17,386

JENNIFER KEITH FERGUSONDEPUTY DIRECTOR · 34 hrs/week $138,067Base $128,979 · Other $9,088

CHRISTIN HARPEREMPLOYEE · 1 hrs/week $130,096Base $116,184 · Other $13,912

LAURA KELLAMSNWA DIRECTOR · 38 hrs/week $118,242Base $111,168 · Other $7,074

ESTER WILLSEMPLOYEE · 1 hrs/week $114,454Base $101,112 · Other $13,342

PETE GESSEMPLOYEE · 1 hrs/week $110,515Base $103,716 · Other $6,799

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 (25)

KEESA SMITHEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JENNIFER KEITH FERGUSONDEPUTY DIRECTOR

CHRISTIN HARPEREMPLOYEE

LAURA KELLAMSNWA DIRECTOR

ESTER WILLSEMPLOYEE

PETE GESSEMPLOYEE

XOCHITL DELGADO SOLORZANOPRESIDENT

BROOKE MONTGOMERYDIRECTOR

WILLIAM SCHWABDIRECTOR

TAMARA PACE-GLOVERDIRECTOR

STACEY STURNERSECRETARY

SHARON LANIERDIRECTOR

RYAN D DAVISDIRECTOR

RICHARD MOSSDIRECTOR

REJENA S GROTJOHNDIRECTOR

PRESTON CLEGGDIRECTOR

NIKKI EDGEVICE PRESIDENT

NATHAN COULTERDIRECTOR

MERVIN JEBARAJDIRECTOR

GAYATRI AGNEWDIRECTOR

DR SUSAN SULLIVAN MILLERDIRECTOR

DR SHELDON RIKLONDIRECTOR

DR HERSHEY GARNERDIRECTOR

DR GENE LUTREASURER

DR CHAD RODGERSDIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1977
Location: 1400 W MARKHAM ST STE 306, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201-1844
County: Pulaski
In care of: JENNIFER FERGUSON
Primary officer: JENNIFER FERGUSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailconnect@aradvocates.org Phone(501) 371-9678

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: LANDMARK PLC CPAS
NTEE classification: Human Services (P010)
IRS tax category: Other Social Advocacy Organizations