Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← THINK OF US

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THINK OF US.

Totals

Total revenue
$50,682,882
Total expenses
$11,255,035
Contributions and grants received
$50,078,907
Grants paid
$2,894,920
Program service revenue
$144,672
Investment income
$459,303
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$46,479,921
Total liabilities, end of year
$423,288
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$46,056,633
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$8,563,054
Management and general expenses
$1,706,935
Fundraising expenses
$985,046
Program service expenses (Part III)
$8,563,054

Program services were 76.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $1,429,133

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $48,649,774

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $10,301,053

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CONTRACT SERVICES

    total $144,672 · related or exempt $144,672

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $459,303 · excluded $459,303

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $2,092,704 · program services $2,092,704

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $802,216 · program services $802,216

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $511,760 · program services $425,031 · management and general $57,819 · fundraising $28,910

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,941,652 · program services $3,233,382 · management and general $558,289 · fundraising $149,981

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $111,691 · program services $91,591 · management and general $15,843 · fundraising $4,257

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $274,374 · program services $224,975 · management and general $38,518 · fundraising $10,881

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $329,431 · program services $270,583 · management and general $45,640 · fundraising $13,208

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $9,069 · management and general $9,069

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $177,288 · management and general $177,288

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,510,496 · program services $888,968 · management and general $194,278 · fundraising $427,250

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $80,463 · program services $22,095 · management and general $46,082 · fundraising $12,286

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $230,116 · program services $63,190 · management and general $131,792 · fundraising $35,134

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $86,819 · program services $23,840 · management and general $49,723 · fundraising $13,256

  • 17 · Travel

    total $386,423 · program services $200,976 · management and general $147,810 · fundraising $37,637

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $24,645 · program services $12,818 · management and general $9,427 · fundraising $2,400

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,503 · management and general $2,503

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $56,310 · program services $15,463 · management and general $32,250 · fundraising $8,597

  • 24a · Other expenses: FIELD BUILDING

    total $327,643 · program services $63,922 · management and general $30,489 · fundraising $233,232

  • 24b · Other expenses: RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

    total $248,275 · program services $108,900 · management and general $131,669 · fundraising $7,706

  • 24c · Other expenses: TAXES & BUS. REG.

    total $21,512 · program services $7,635 · management and general $13,866 · fundraising $11

  • 24d · Other expenses: OTHER EXPENSES

    total $20,016 · program services $8,857 · management and general $11,147 · fundraising $12

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $9,629 · program services $5,908 · management and general $3,433 · fundraising $288

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $4,324,607 · end of year $2,210,133

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,015 · end of year $17,757,228

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    end of year $26,433,280

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $2,768,037

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $68,936 · end of year $55,268

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $5,285

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $3,657

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $26,514 · end of year $1,628

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $22,384

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $61,320 · end of year $423,288

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $500,000

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,186,607 · end of year $6,099,878

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,442,182 · end of year $39,956,755

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

WE'RE A RESEARCH AND DESIGN LAB FOR THE SOCIAL SECTOR, WORKING TO TRANSFORM CHILD WELFARE. LED AND GUIDED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS SYSTEM, WE ARE A TRUSTED PARTNER ACROSS THE NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE FIELD. WE WORK WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, LAWMAKERS, PROVIDERS, ADVOCATES, AND FOUNDATIONS TO DRIVE NOVEL, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SEE PART III, LINE 1.

  • VIRTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES - THINK OF US' FLAGSHIP PROJECTS ARE COMMITTED TO STEERING AND CO-DRIVING SUBSTANTIAL, OFTEN MULTI-YEAR INITIATIVES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO FUNDAMENTALLY RESHAPE THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 IN 2020, TOU UTILIZED ITS POSITION TO ESTABLISH A COMMAND CENTER. THIS SERVED AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE, OFFERING SUPPORT TO FOSTER CARE INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE INITIATIVE SET UP A FOUNDATIONAL DIGITAL MODEL, COMPLEMENTED BY DIRECT 1:1 SUPPORT, PROVIDING FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CRUCIAL RESOURCES SUCH AS SHORT AND LONG-TERM HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING. BUILDING UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE COVID-19 COMMAND CENTER, THINK OF US FURTHER EXPANDED ITS IMPACT BY LAUNCHING THE VIRTUAL SUPPORT SERVICES (VSS) PLATFORM. IN 2023, TOU RESPONDED TO 7,099 REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF 3,669 FAMILIES - HELPING THEM ACCESS OVER $50 MILLION IN RESOURCES.

    Expenses $2,915,101 · Grants $143,970 · Revenue $144,672

  • CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE - THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE, LED BY A VICE PRESIDENT, SERVES AS A CRUCIAL SUPPORT ENTITY BEYOND THINK OF US (TOU). THIS CENTER UTILIZES BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE TO ADVANCE SYSTEM DESIGN, WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON INCORPORATING THE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE. THROUGH A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT COMBINES PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION, COMMUNITY BUILDING, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, AND PROXIMATE POLICY, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE SYSTEMATICALLY INTEGRATES LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO ALL FACETS OF CHILD WELFARE RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE. THE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEM, ALLOWING THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR POWER AND PERSPECTIVES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. MOREOVER, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE OPERATES AS A LIVING MODEL, DEMONSTRATING HOW TO CENTER LIVED EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT AND TRULY MAKE CHILD WELFARE HUMAN-CENTERED. BY BLENDING RESEARCH TO SET NARRATIVES AND ENVISION POSSIBILITIES ALONGSIDE CRAFTING PUBLIC POLICY TO CODIFY EFFECTIVE PRACTICES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS, THE CENTER FOR LIVED EXPERIENCE IS DEDICATED TO DRIVING A NATIONAL SYSTEMS CHANGE MOVEMENT. IN 2023, 2,279 YOUTH, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM PARTICIPATED IN OUR RESEARCH STUDIES, SURVEYS, AND IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS.

    Expenses $1,532,858 · Grants $160,388

  • SYSTEM CHANGE LAB - THE SYSTEMS CHANGE LAB AT THINK OF US OPERATES AT THE JURISDICTION LEVEL, COLLABORATING WITH COUNTIES AND STATES TO DRIVE PRACTICAL INNOVATION. THINK OF US IS ENGAGED BY JURISDICTIONS AND KEY NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC, RESEARCH, AND PROGRAM LEADERS, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO LEVERAGE LIVED EXPERIENCE-CENTERED RESEARCH AND DESIGN CAPABILITIES TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. IN TANDEM, THE HACK FOSTER CARE INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON FOSTERING NEW IDEAS BY BRINGING TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP GROUNDBREAKING SOLUTIONS IN TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY. THIS ENCOMPASSES IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND SUPPORT FOR STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES.

    Expenses $1,231,528 · Grants $506,167

  • OTHER PROGRAMS - GENERAL PROGRAMS, LOBBYING, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY.

    Expenses $2,883,567 · Grants $2,084,395

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Sixto Cancel

    CEO

    Total calculated
    $231,276
    From this org
    $220,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,276
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,233
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,043
    Filer's total
    $231,276

  • Matthew Gemello

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kenneth Jones

    BOARD PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lawana Kimbro

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Kathleen Whyte

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andrew Karsh

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Megan Smith

    MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jessica Skylar

    MANAGING PARTNER

    Total calculated
    $280,483
    From this org
    $265,100
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,383
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $220,000
    Bonus
    $45,100
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,678
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,705
    Filer's total
    $280,483

  • Edith Penn

    VP, PEOPLE (UNTIL 12/8/23)

    Total calculated
    $244,956
    From this org
    $231,737
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,219
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $178,000
    Bonus
    $5,000
    Other
    $48,737
    Deferred
    $4,519
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,700
    Filer's total
    $244,956

  • Sonali Patel

    VP, COMMUNITY IMPLEMENTATION

    Total calculated
    $209,496
    From this org
    $195,800
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,696
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,000
    Bonus
    $5,800
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,478
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,218
    Filer's total
    $209,496

  • Morgan Cole

    SENIOR FELLOW, STATE SYSTEMS

    Total calculated
    $186,675
    From this org
    $168,480
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,195
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $163,800
    Bonus
    $4,680
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,781
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,414
    Filer's total
    $186,675

  • Sarah Fathallah

    SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

    Total calculated
    $185,237
    From this org
    $174,800
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,437
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,000
    Bonus
    $14,800
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,044
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,393
    Filer's total
    $185,237

  • Elizabeth Mills

    VP, STRATEGIC PROJECTS

    Total calculated
    $166,391
    From this org
    $156,600
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,791
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,250
    Bonus
    $4,350
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,628
    Nontaxable benefits
    $5,163
    Filer's total
    $166,391

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 4A
EDITH PENN RECEIVED SEVERANCE OF $48,737 DURING THE YEAR.
PART I, LINE 7
THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES RECEIVED PERFORMANCE-BASED BONUSES DURING THE YEAR: - JESSICA SKYLAR $45,100 - EDITH PENN $5,000 - SONALI PATEL $5,800 - MORGAN COLE $4,680 - SARAH FATHALLAH $14,800 - ELIZABETH MILLS $4,350

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202413209349315786

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.