Children's Advocacy Centers
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) is a public charity based in Austin, Texas. It supports a statewide network of local children’s advocacy centers (CACs), providing funding and coordinating statewide advocacy and services for children and families affected by crime.
Key facts about Children's Advocacy Centers
In short: Children's Advocacy Centers gave $66.8M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $954K), mostly in Texas. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 75-2581804
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $66,797,098
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- Average grant
- $954,244
- Median grant
- $658,302
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 70, 2025)
- Total assets
- $29,755,374
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The LEAP proposal deadline was October 16, 2024.
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$29.8M
+15.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$66.8M
-12.1% YoY
Grant Count
70
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$954K
-12.1% YoY
Is Children's Advocacy Centers open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 70 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $704K; repeat grants $969K. How we count
Medians: $711K first-time, $641K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
CACTX’s stated mission is to lead efforts, in partnership with investigative and prosecution agencies, to pursue justice and healing for child victims of crime. It also says it works to prevent child sexual abuse.
CACTX provides pass-through funding, support, monitoring, and training to local Texas CACs and their multidisciplinary team partners. Services delivered through the network include joint investigation coordination, forensic interviews, case management, trauma-focused therapy, medical evaluations, and multidisciplinary case review.
The organizations it supports include local CACs. For example, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center describes its mission as providing annual financial support to help ensure the center’s long-term financial viability, while Alliance for Children says its mission is to protect Tarrant County children from abuse through teamed investigation, healing services, and community education. Center for Child Protection says its mission is to reduce trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, CACTX reported 70 grants totaling $76,001,890. Grants ranged from $260,450 to $5,437,687, with a median of $735,940. The stated purpose of its largest grants was “child victims of crime services for justice and healing.”
Review Cycle
The LEAP proposal deadline was October 16, 2024.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Children's Advocacy Centers
Ready to take the next step with Children's Advocacy Centers?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CACTX’s grantmaking supports local CACs in Texas. All 2024 grant dollars listed were awarded to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 70 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $51.7M (2019) to $76.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $66.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Children's Assessment Center Foundation ($4.9M). Together the top 10 received $29.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
351 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 171 grants of 351 (49%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Children's Assessment Center Foundation Houston, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $4,859,099 |
| Alliance for Children Inc Fort Worth, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $4,603,998 |
| Dallas Children's Advocacy Center Dallas, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $3,960,854 |
| Alamo Cac DBA Childsafe San Antonio, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $2,792,749 |
| Center for Child Protection Austin, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $2,584,958 |
| Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County Inc Plano, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $2,565,084 |
| Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas Inc Lewisville, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $2,369,585 |
| Montgomery County Children's Advocacy Center Inc Conroe, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $2,328,698 |
| Children's Advocacy Center of Hidalgo and Starr Counties Edinburg, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $1,642,278 |
| Ft Bend County Child Advocates Inc Rosenberg, TX | Child victims of crime services for justice and healing | $1,512,296 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $25,873,263 | $85,918,753 | $86,000,176 | $76,001,890 |
| 2023 | $30,729,777 | $82,406,192 | $82,251,779 | $72,742,123 |
| 2022 | $23,503,638 | $73,472,402 | $72,973,823 | $66,219,172 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,755,374 | $25,873,263 | $30,729,777 |
| Revenue | $85,528,759 | $85,918,753 | $82,406,192 |
| Expenses | $85,363,891 | $86,000,176 | $82,251,779 |
| Net Investment Income | $651,455 | $72,947 | $325,131 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Meredith Delk as president, Laura Squires as vice president, Jane Donovan as secretary, Steven Almrud as treasurer, and Michael Keener as past president. It also lists Dawna Ballard, Jenn Deering Davis, Reed Clay, Carrie Maher, and Tom Forbes as board members.
CACTX identifies Joy Hughes Rauls as its chief executive officer.
Children's Advocacy Centers is led by Joy Lynn Hughes, Chief Executive Officer since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 12 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joy Lynn Hughes
Chief Executive Officer
CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$169K (2019) → $378K (2025)
Michael Keener
President
President → Past President, 2024
Past President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lanette Vela
Director of Contract Compliance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2025)
Catherine Bass
Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President
Cso → Chief Strategy Officer, 2021
Chief Strategy Officer → Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$124K (2019) → $239K (2025)
Christina Green
Chief Advcmt & Ext Relations Officer
Director Public Affairs & CAO → Chief Advancement Officer, 2020
Chief Advancement Officer → Chief Advcmt & Ext Relations Officer, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$109K (2019) → $215K (2025)
Ellen Morrisey
Chief Prevention Officer
Vice President of Member Initiatives → Chief Program Officer, 2022
Chief Program Officer → Chief Prevention Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $154K (2025)
Natasha King
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$120K (2022) → $236K (2025)
Justin Joyner
Chief Operations Officer
Chief Information Officer → Chief Operations Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$168K (2023) → $215K (2025)
Kaley Friedenthal
Vice President & Contract Management
Vice President of Contract Management → Vice President & Financial Initiatives, 2023
Vice President & Financial Initiatives → Vice President & Contract Management, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$109K (2022) → $165K (2025)
Vincent Calderon
Vice President & Communications
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$140K (2023) → $143K (2025)
Chelsea Churchill
Chief Program Officer
Chief Impact Officer → Chief Program Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$124K (2024) → $159K (2025)
Lindsey Jordan
Vice President & Prevention
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024) → $107K (2025)
Kasey Jackson
Vice President & Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$113K (2025)
Gina Debottis Metts
Board Member
Board Member → Past President, 2023
Past President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Squiers
President Elect
Board Member → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President Elect, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Delk
Board Member
President Elect → President, 2024
President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reed Clay
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Forbes
Vice President
Vice President → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Almrud
Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Wilschetz
Treasurer
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Maher
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawna Ballard
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenn Deering Davis
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell Valdez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Danner
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Doran
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meagan Webb
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Mejia
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renzo Soto
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (38)
- Former: Cary Baker (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jane Donovan (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Brent Ives (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Justin Wood (2021–2024) — Former Vice President, Ext Relation & General Counsel
- Former: Kristin Howell (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Todd Latiolais (2024) — Director of Prevention Edu. Strategy
- Former: Billy Millwee (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Denise Rose (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kim Abernethy (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Victoria Constance (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Amanda Barczyk (2023) — Director of Research & Eval · Filing note: Until 2323
- Former: Arann Barnett (2023) — Vice President, Hr & Business Optimization · Filing note: Until 93022
- Former: Daniel Soto (2023) — Vice President & Finance · Filing note: Until 2923
- Former: Blaine Brunson (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Julie Evans (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Terri Smith (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tracy King (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Kelsheimer (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Lauren Paver (2021–2022) — Chief Transformation Officer
- Former: Cherisse Robinson (2019–2021) — CFO
- Former: Denise Merriman (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lindsay Mullins (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Brock (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: James Kimbell (2019–2020) — Past-President
- Former: Revlynn Lawson (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Cherisse Robison Termed (2020) — CFO
- Former: Irish Burch Termed (2020) — Senior Director Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Cleve Glenn (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Dave McGee (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Irish Burch (2019) — Senior Director Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Jeff M. Jeter (2019) — Past-President
- Former: Jessica Mahaffey (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lasse Wagene (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lee Hon (2019) — Ex-Officio
- Former: Leslie Ward (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Michelle Carter (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Rhonda Pierce (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Sally Allen (2019) — CDO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $378K, to Joy Lynn Hughes (Chief Executive Officer). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1501 W Anderson Ln Bldg B-1, Austin, TX 78757-1452
Phone: (512) 258-9920
Website: https://cactx.org
Frequently asked questions about Children's Advocacy Centers
How much does Children's Advocacy Centers give each year?
Children's Advocacy Centers gave $66.8M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $76.0M across 70 grants.
What is Children's Advocacy Centers's typical grant size?
Children's Advocacy Centers's median grant in 2025 was $658,302, and its average grant was $954,244, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Children's Advocacy Centers that year got $704K on average.
Where does Children's Advocacy Centers give grants?
Children's Advocacy Centers gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Children's Advocacy Centers give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on Children's Advocacy Centers's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Child Victims of Crime Services for Justice and Healing" (70 grants).
Who are Children's Advocacy Centers's largest grantees?
Children's Advocacy Centers's largest 2025 grantees include The Children's Assessment Center Foundation ($4,859,099), Alliance for Children Inc ($4,603,998) and Dallas Children's Advocacy Center ($3,960,854), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Children's Advocacy Centers?
Children's Advocacy Centers reported $29.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $85.5M.
What does Children's Advocacy Centers fund?
CACTX’s stated mission is to lead efforts, in partnership with investigative and prosecution agencies, to pursue justice and healing for child victims of crime. It also says it works to prevent child sexual abuse. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Children's Advocacy Centers?
In filing year 2024, CACTX reported 70 grants totaling $76,001,890. Grants ranged from $260,450 to $5,437,687, with a median of $735,940. The stated purpose of its largest grants was “child victims of crime services for justice and healing.”
What is Children's Advocacy Centers's EIN?
Children's Advocacy Centers's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2581804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Children's Advocacy Centers by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Children's Advocacy Centers's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Union Pacific Foundation
Omaha, NE
The Union Pacific Foundation funds 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Union Pacific communities, prioritizing safety, workforce development, community vitality, environmental sustainability, and local needs. Its annual local grants are typically $5,000–$30,000, though awards overall ranged from $5,000 to $600,000 in 2025; it prioritizes local operating communities, with the most 2025 funding going to Nebraska. It accepts online applications during designated periods and says it does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$75K
Grants
441
Total Given
$8.2M
In-N-Out Burgers Foundation
Irvine, CA
The In-N-Out Burgers Foundation funds nonprofits that prevent or address child abuse and neglect, including prevention, shelter, foster care, early intervention, treatment, and related services for children and youth. Its stated award range is $10,000–$50,000, and it supports communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. The program is invite-only and considers a limited number of requests; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$45.6M
Grants
244
Total Given
$4.4M
Texas Bar Foundation
Austin, TX
The Texas Bar Foundation funds Texas nonprofits, government entities, and local bar affiliates working to strengthen the rule of law and justice, including legal assistance for underserved people, court administration, legal ethics, and legal education. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,400 to $45,000, with a median of about $13,700. It accepts applications through semi-annual Spring and Fall cycles.
Assets
$46.7M
Grants
110
Total Given
$1.6M
American Electric Power Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The American Electric Power Foundation funds STEM education, basic needs such as hunger and housing, social justice, and environmental protection. Its 2025 grants had a median of $10,000, with awards ranging from $500 to about $1.43 million; funding is concentrated in Ohio, with grants also going to states including Texas, Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia. It accepts applications only from preselected organizations invited through a local AEP Operating Company and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$43.6M
Grants
753
Total Given
$23.0M
Communities Foundation of Texas Inc
Dallas, TX
Communities Foundation of Texas funds charitable work in health, wealth, living, and learning, with much of its grantmaking supporting North Texas nonprofits; its 2025 grants had a median of $18,779, though award sizes varied widely. Nearly all opportunities are by invitation, and its Nonprofit Gateway profile is not a grant application.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
2,209
Total Given
$209.2M
Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Austin, TX
Texas Mutual funds Texas nonprofits working on economic opportunity for working Texans, early childhood care and basic needs, workforce development, small-business resilience, career pathways, and workplace or emergency-responder safety. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $600,000, with a median of $86,250; one 2026 grant program offered awards of $25,000 to $100,000.
Assets
$8.6B
Grants
168
Total Given
$14.6M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports nonprofits in health, education, arts, disaster relief, reforestation, hunger relief, and community equity, with an emphasis on organizations actively supported by Enterprise employees and their families. Its reported grants range widely: 2024 giving averaged about $7,700 across 9,499 grants, while the foundation also offers awards of up to $40,000; it supports communities where Enterprise operates worldwide. Unsolicited requests are accepted at any time, but eligible applications must be submitted by an Enterprise team member or their spouse or domestic partner on behalf of a nonprofit they actively support.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
National Children's Alliance Inc
Washington, DC
National Children’s Alliance funds Children’s Advocacy Centers, multidisciplinary teams, and state chapters to build or expand services for children affected by abuse, including equipment and technology needs. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,131 to $375,352, with a median of $34,579, and support organizations at the state and local levels across the United States. It solicits applications through RFPs and an online process; equipment and technology applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funding is available.
Assets
$17.2M
Grants
458
Total Given
$24.4M
Greater Houston Community Foundation
Houston, TX
The Foundation makes grants through donor-advised and other donor-established funds for public benefit, human services, education, and health, including initiatives addressing economic mobility and poverty in Harris County. In 2024, its median grant was $25,000; it serves Greater Houston, while grants also go to recipients elsewhere in Texas and beyond. It does not accept proposals for the upcoming High-Impact Grantmaking cycle and plans to invite selected organizations or collaboratives to apply.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,724
Total Given
$232.3M
The Houston Food Bank
Houston, TX
The Houston Food Bank supports food distribution and related hunger-relief programs, including school, children’s, and senior food initiatives, through community organizations in 18 Southeast Texas counties. Its 2025 grants had a median of $33,402, though awards varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$164.4M
Grants
1,128
Total Given
$210.7M
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
The BNSF Railway Foundation supports civic, cultural, educational, health and human services, environmental, and youth programs, as well as general operating costs, in communities served by BNSF across its 28-state network. Its 2025 median grant was $2,500; its current grants program lists awards of $1,000–$10,000.
Assets
$23.0M
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
More Funders in Texas
Children's Advocacy Centers down — hundreds of funders to go?