Children's Health Defense
Ending childhood health epidemics by eliminating toxic exposure. The specific purposes of this corporation are to restore and protect the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, holding responsible parties accountable, and establishing safeguards to prevent future harm to children's health.
Children's Health Defense at a glance
- Total assets
- $16,669,049
- -5.2% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $15,234,096
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $613,295
- +27.2% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $15,917,481
- -17.2% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Children's Health Defense funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 7 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2023 it made 7 grants totaling $226K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Neurodiversity Foundation Fulshear, TX | — | $136,000 |
| Moms Across America Weaverville, NC | — | $25,000 |
| Autism International Association In Fullerton, CA | — | $20,000 |
| American Citizens for Health Choice Eden Prairie, MN | — | $15,000 |
| Autism Age LLC Trumbull, CT | — | $10,000 |
| Global Health Project Los Altos, CA | — | $10,000 |
| The Kirsch Foundation Los Altos, CA | — | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,669,049 | $15,234,096 | $15,917,481 | — | — | $613,295 |
| 2023 | $17,580,230 | $16,146,234 | $19,212,861 | $226,000 | 7 | $482,207 |
| 2022 | $20,205,066 | $23,541,029 | $14,469,197 | — | — | $-141,460 |
| 2021 | $11,057,001 | $15,990,132 | $9,122,211 | — | — | $68,140 |
| 2020 | $3,981,775 | $6,834,424 | $4,743,498 | — | — | $74,377 |
About Children's Health Defense
Based on IRS filings
Children's Health Defense is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Franklin Lakes, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.7M in total assets. Net investment income was $613K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Children's Health Defense is led by Mary S. Holland, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 15 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary S. Holland
CEO
Vice Chairman Director → President Director, 2021
President Director → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$180K (2020) → $239K (2024)
Jacqueline Hines
Executive Director, Education & Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$147K (2024)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Chairman on Leave
Chairman Chief Legal Counsel → Chairman on Leave, 2023
On filings since 2020
$346K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Michelle Walrath
Board Chairperson
Director → Board Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay Sullivan
Board Chairperson
Director → Board Chairperson, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hooker
Chief Science Officer & Director
Director → Chief Science Officer Director, 2021
Chief Science Officer Director → Chief Science Officer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $159K (2024)
Lynne Arnold
Senior Director, It & Committee
Senior Director of It & Communications → Senior Director, It & Committee, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2023) → $171K (2024)
Miriam Eckenfels-Garcia
Director, Fellowships & Emr
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2024)
Michael Baum
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Silver
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deirdre Imus
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Hopper
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Merinoff
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Lyons
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Gorton
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Bono
Executive Vice President
Director → Executive Director, 2021
Executive Director → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2021) → $226K (2024)
Rolf Hazlehurst
Senior Attorney
Attorney → General Counsel, 2021
General Counsel → Senior Attorney, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Doug Kissell
CFO & Treasurer
Director of Finance → Treasurer & Senior Director of F, 2023
Treasurer & Senior Director of F → CFO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$128K (2022) → $198K (2024)
Giorgio Zeolla
CAO
Director of Development → Senior Director of Development, 2023
Senior Director of Development → CAO, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$131K (2022) → $208K (2024)
Dawn Mayes
Secretary
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$116K (2023) → $88K (2024)
Janet McLean
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$70K (2024)
Katherine Paul
Editor-In Chief-Defender
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$146K (2024)
Kim Mack Rosenberg
General Counsel
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$224K (2024)
Kraig Makohus
COO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Lou Woroch
Controller
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2024)
Former officers (17)
- Former: Aimee Rickabus (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristina Kristen (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sheila Ealey (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Horwin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Andrew Pek (2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: John Sullivan (2023) — Director
- Former: Alix Mayer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Heidi Kidd (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Katie Wright (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rita Shreffler (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Terena Eisner (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tiffany Neu (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Thomas Durbin (2022) — Lead Developer
- Former: David Centner (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Leila Centner (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lyndelle Redwood (2020–2021) — President Director
- Former: Robyn Ross (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $239K, to Mary S Holland (CEO). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Children's Health Defense
How large is Children's Health Defense?
Children's Health Defense reported $16.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.2M.
What is Children's Health Defense?
Children's Health Defense is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Franklin Lakes, NJ. It holds $16.7M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Children's Health Defense operate?
Children's Health Defense has awarded grants in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas.
What is Children's Health Defense's EIN?
Children's Health Defense's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0388604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Children's Health Defense funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Children's Health Defense's focus areas in our free grants database
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Children's Health Defense down — hundreds of funders to go?