Children's Equity Fund
Children’s Equity Fund (CEF) is a public charity based in Washington, DC, established in 2019 through a donation from the Jane Bainum Trust. It advances policy change at the federal, state, and local levels to improve the well-being of children and families, and funds policy advocacy, voter protection, and voter education.
Children's Equity Fund at a glance
In short: Children's Equity Fund gave $6.9M across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $223K), top state District of Columbia. 46% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,915,750
- -27.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -11.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $223,089
- -18.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $114,354,450
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (12 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Children's Equity Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 1401 H Street 650, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (240) 450-0011
Website: https://childrensequityfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Children's Equity Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Future Now Action ($1.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $5.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 34 grants of 89 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEF’s 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states, with the largest shares going to Washington, DC (46%), Virginia (12%), New York (12%), Kansas (9%), and Mississippi (7%). These figures describe the locations of grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Children's Equity Fund open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 26 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $145K; repeat grants $370K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $205K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.2M (2022) to $9.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $6.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DC Action for Children Washington, DC | FY25 CEF Grant | $930,000 |
| Future Now Action Washington, DC | FY24 CEF Grant | $800,000 |
| Impact Fellows Action Fund Leawood, KS | Social Welfare Grant | $650,000 |
| Economic Security Project Action New York, NY | CEF Primary Purpose Renewal Grant | $600,000 |
| Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund Washington, DC | CEF Primary Purpose Grant | $400,000 |
| Clapham Group LLC Springfield, VA | Grant for CTC Efforts | $395,000 |
| Future Now Action Washington, DC | CEF Political Activity Renewal Grant | $350,000 |
| Center for Community Change Action Washington, DC | FY24 Request | $250,000 |
| Mississippi Voter Alliance Jackson, MS | FY25 CEF Social Welfare Grant | $250,000 |
| Virginia Promise in Action Richmond, VA | CEF Social Welfare Grant | $240,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $114,354,450 | $10,870,033 | $9,467,242 | $6,915,750 | 31 | $10,870,033 |
| 2024 | $115,732,034 | $1,800,083 | $11,484,106 | $9,581,250 | 35 | $1,800,083 |
| 2023 | $120,585,585 | $2,430,629 | $4,764,606 | $3,720,000 | 11 | $2,430,629 |
| 2022 | $119,106,554 | $5,367,320 | $4,225,473 | $3,240,000 | 12 | $5,367,320 |
| 2021 | $126,073,605 | $261,292 | $490,695 | — | — | $261,292 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEF’s mission is to champion comprehensive policy changes at the federal, state, and local levels to create lasting systems change that improves the well-being of children and families. Its filing describes work with local and national organizations to advance equity-driven policies and systemic change for young children from birth through age eight and their families, including advocacy for increased public investment in early childhood programs and services, with attention to historically marginalized communities. The organization also supports voter education and protection, which it connects to civic engagement and lasting systems change.
CEF says it funds organizations and collaboratives working to address racial and economic inequities affecting Black and brown communities. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of funded work: Impact Fellows Action Fund describes providing funding and technical assistance to state advocates for early childhood policies; Virginia Promise in Action says it builds political will for policy improvements and increased investment in Virginia’s child care system; and Economic Security Project Action says it advocates for economic power, guaranteed income, and cash tax credits.
Grantmaking
In 2025, CEF reported 31 grants totaling $6,915,750. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $930,000, with a median of $150,000. Notable awards included $930,000 to DC Action for Children, $800,000 to Future Now Action, $650,000 to Impact Fellows Action Fund, $600,000 to Economic Security Project Action, and $400,000 to Jews United for Justice Campaign Fund. Other large awards included $395,000 to Clapham Group LLC, $350,000 to Future Now Action, and $250,000 to Center for Community Change Action.
CEF says grant awards use written agreements specifying the grant’s purpose, permissible uses, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. Grantees must report within 60 days after the agreement ends and make records of grant-fund use available for review. The organization says it reviews reports to confirm funds were used for proper purposes and not diverted from their intended use.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Barbara Bainum as board chair; Scott Renschler, Brad Bainum, Alaina Beverly, and Roxana Norouzi as board directors; David Daniels as president; Michael Brannan as treasurer and CFO; Mae Cheung and Aimee Stewart as part-year secretaries; and John Grant as director of program and operations. The organization states that its board includes Bainum family members and trusted experts.
Children's Equity Fund is led by David Daniels, President on every filing since 2021; 9 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Daniels
President
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$16K (2021) → $74K (2025)
Barbara Bainum
Board Chair
Director & Member → Board Director, 2023
Board Director → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Deeds
Senior Director of Finance
Treasurer → Senior Director of Finance, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $17K (2025)
John Grant
Director, Program & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$180K (2025)
Kelly Smith
Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
$23K (2025)
Scott Renschler
Board Director
Director → Board Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Bainum
Board Director
Director → Board Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alaina Beverly
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roxana Norouzi
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mae Cheung
Part-Year Secretary
Secretary → Part-Year Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
$16K (2021) → $44K (2025)
Marica Cox Mitchell
Chief Program Officer
Senior Director & Early Childhood → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Chief Program Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$5K (2022) → $3K (2025)
Rebecca Cisek
Chief Impact Officer
Vice President of Organization Learning → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Chief Impact Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $22K (2025)
Clara Northington
Vice President of Human Resources
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$11K (2023) → $21K (2025)
Michael Brannan
Treasurer & CFO
Treasurer & Vice President of Finance → Treasurer & CFO, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$9K (2024) → $18K (2025)
Aimee Stewart
Part-Year Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Leila Otis Left (2024) — Senior Advisor
- Former: Miyesha Perry (2024) — Director of Grants Management
- Former: Ann Egan (2022–2023) — Director & Communications
- Former: Leila Otis (2022–2023) — CFO & Related Organization
- Former: Brenda Henry (2022) — Vice President of Programs
- Former: Andrew Curtis (2021) — Director & Infor. Technology
- Former: Roberto Rodriguez (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $180K, to John Grant (DIR. , Program & Operations). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Children's Equity Fund
How much does Children's Equity Fund give each year?
Children's Equity Fund gave $6.9M across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $9.6M across 35 grants.
What is Children's Equity Fund's typical grant size?
Children's Equity Fund's median grant in 2025 was $150,000, and its average grant was $223,089, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Children's Equity Fund that year got $145K on average.
Where does Children's Equity Fund give grants?
Children's Equity Fund's top state is District of Columbia, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Virginia (12%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (10 grants), Jackson, MS (3 grants), Hyattsville, MD (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (3 grants).
Does Children's Equity Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Children's Equity Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "CEF Board Discretionary" (5 grants), "CEF Primary Purpose Renewal Grant" (4 grants) and "FY24 CEF Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Children's Equity Fund's largest grantees?
Children's Equity Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Future Now Action ($1,150,000 across 2 grants), DC Action for Children ($930,000) and Economic Security Project Action ($800,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Children's Equity Fund?
Children's Equity Fund reported $114.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.9M.
What does Children's Equity Fund fund?
CEF’s mission is to champion comprehensive policy changes at the federal, state, and local levels to create lasting systems change that improves the well-being of children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Children's Equity Fund?
Children's Equity Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check childrensequityfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Children's Equity Fund's EIN?
Children's Equity Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3694024. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Children's Equity Fund funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Children's Equity Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Children's Equity Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/children-s-equity-fund-morg_a766c11543bb40cb9964684e1810d679
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843694024_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Children's Equity Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/children-s-equity-fund-morg_a766c11543bb40cb9964684e1810d679},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Children's Equity Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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