To transform the lives of Children by supporting, empowering, and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children's lives-their parents, caregivers and teachers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$135K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $77K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$135K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $22K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.3M
33% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 33% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
16
of 16 voting members
Looks good: 16 of 16 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.8M
Spent
$4.7M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$2.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.8M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.8M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$6.3M
FY2023$16.0M
FY2024$18.7M
FY2025$14.5M
Expenses
$4.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$6.1M
FY2023$15.9M
FY2024$19.2M
FY2025$15.0M
Net assets
$2.6M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$2.7M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.5M
FY2025$2.0M

From the FY2020 Form 990 (year ending June 2020) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1973.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $4.3M Management & general 8% · $388K Fundraising 0% · $20K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $135K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2019); the FY2020 filing did not itemize Part VII
$135,354Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Past President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Eric Karolak’s $162K as CEO to June 2025 is at the 25th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Eric Karolak$161,763——$153,175$136,578$135,354
Eric J Karolak PHD—$139,197$143,040———
Stephanie McFadden$106,873—————
Natalie Atkins$104,632$100,819————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Action for Children executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides FBI and BCI background checks and fingerprinting services to child care professionals, parents, guardians, and community members.

Questions for Action for Children

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.3M · in their own filed words · FY2019
01

Early Childhood Community

Provide child care centers and family child care homes (directors, teachers and family child care providers) with coaching, professional development and technical assistance and support in obtaining, increasing or maintaining step up to quality rating.

$2.7Mprogram expense
02

Parents, Guardians, and Families

Provide parents and guardians with knowledge, skills and support in creating a healthy, mutually respectful family while also providing learning experiences so as to increase school readiness outcomes and ensure that families in central ohio have increased knowledge of quality indicators and access to child care and early education…

$1.6Mprogram expense
03

Community

Provide web check fingerprinting services for those needing a criminal background check for employment or other reasons.

$60Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$22K
Grants paid · 384 grants · $23.3M · 2021–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$5,186,893
Unitemized GrantFY2024$442,663
Tender Years Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Starting Point Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Pathway II Destiny ChildcareFY2024$15,000
Little Miracles EdcFY2024$15,000
G Tyree Learning CenterOH · FY2024$15,000
Future Scholars Learning AcademyFY2024$15,000
Fulbright Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Driving Park Early Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Cdcfc North Linden Early Learning CenterOH · FY2024$15,000
YMCA - Jerry L Garver Child Care ProgramOH · FY2024$10,000
Tiny Tots Day Care ServicesFY2024$10,000
Rainbow2 Childcare INCFY2024$10,000
Rainbow Childcare INCFY2024$10,000
North Branch YMCAOH · FY2024$10,000
Little Ones Learning CenterFY2024$10,000
See all 384 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$836K
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Money outPt IX
$4.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.3M
Managementcol C$388K
Fundraisingcol D$20K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.4M
Total assetsLn 16$3.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a16
IndependentVI 1b16
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.8M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$836K
Other incomeLn 4–11$12K
Total revenueLn 12$4.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.1M
SavingsLn 2$381K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$418K
Total assetsLn 16$3.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5116
VolunteersI 6320
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$2.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$428K$418K
Total assetsLn 16$2.9M$3.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$367K$1.3M
Net assetsLn 32$2.5M$2.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$135K$135K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.4M$2.3M$102K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$256K$244K$12K
Payroll taxesLn 10$191K$181K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$24K$1K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$460K$387K$54K$18K
Office expensesLn 13$447K$422K$25K$522
OccupancyLn 16$206K$188K$18K
TravelLn 17$52K$49K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$35K$32K$3K
InterestLn 20$6K$3K$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$48K$45K$3K
InsuranceLn 23$22K$21K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$383K$366K$17K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$4.7M$4.3M$388K$20K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $14.5M$15.0M−$445K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $18.7M$19.2M−$505K$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $16.0M$15.9M$81K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.3M$6.1M$249K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.3M$4.3M$56K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $4.8M$4.7M$104K$2.6M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,820,878 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,137,229$3,972,851
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $642,479$835,834
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $0$0
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $33,142$12,193
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $3,812,850$4,820,878
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,875,450$3,031,850
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,045,438$1,684,757
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $3,920,888$4,716,607
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$108,038$104,271
Part VI · Governance 16 of 16 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body16
VI-1b Independent voting members16
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $4,820,878 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$3,829,866
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$142,985
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,972,851
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $835,834$835,834
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $12,193$12,193
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $835,834 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $12,193$4,820,878
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $4,716,607 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $135,354$135,354
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,347,391 · Management $102,110$2,449,501
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $243,604 · Management $12,069$255,673
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $180,760 · Management $10,562$191,322
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $23,701 · Management $1,299$25,000
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $387,323 · Management $54,100 · Fundraising $18,270$459,693
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $421,766 · Management $24,886 · Fundraising $522$447,174
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $187,562 · Management $18,407$205,969
IX-17 TravelPrograms $49,091 · Management $2,897$51,988
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $32,380 · Management $2,855$35,235
IX-20 InterestPrograms $2,917 · Management $3,316$6,233
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $45,241 · Management $2,634$47,875
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $21,053 · Management $1,361$22,414
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $365,517 · Management $16,644 · Fundraising $1,015$383,176
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,308,306 · Management $388,494 · Fundraising $19,807$4,716,607
Part X · Balance sheet $3,874,931 assets, 14 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,458,568$2,052,232
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $370,484$380,602
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $570,374$988,370
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $33,786$36,086
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $427,587$417,641
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $2,860,799$3,874,931
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $285,764$609,357
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $17,500$54,485
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $63,445$612,728
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $366,709$1,276,570
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,488,044$2,592,315
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,046$6,046
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,494,090$2,598,361
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $2,860,799$3,874,931
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,598,361 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,820,878
XI-2 Total expenses$4,716,607
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$104,271
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,494,090
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,598,361

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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