Children Now
Children Now is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan research and advocacy organization, founded in 1988 and based in Oakland, that drives California policy on behalf of children from prenatal to age 26 through research publications, coalition coordination, and The Children's Movement network of 6,000+ organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Children Now does
Children Now is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan research, policy development, and advocacy organization founded in 1988 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It operates exclusively in California, serving children from the prenatal stage through age 26 with a whole-child framework spanning four policy verticals: education, health, child welfare, and early childhood. The organization employs roughly 40+ staff organized under a President (Ted Lempert), two Vice Presidents, and Senior Managing Directors leading each policy area, with a Board of Directors drawn from Deloitte, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield of California, and Morgan Stanley.
Children Now's core product is not a commercial good but a coordinated advocacy and research platform. It publishes the annual California Children's Report Card (grading the state on 30 child outcome indicators) and the interactive California County Scorecard of Children's Well-Being (covering all 58 counties). It operates The Children's Movement of California—a 6,000+ organization, 10,900+ individual member network described as the largest and most diverse children's advocacy coalition in the nation—and a portfolio of issue-specific projects including the Alliance for Student Success, Bay Area STEM Ecosystem, California STEM Network, California Alliance for Children's Environmental Health (CACEH), Coveredtil26, Talk the Tot, Talking with Kids, and the Student Leadership Summit.
The organization's business model is donation-and-grant funded. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring), foundation grants from entities such as the Gates Foundation, Ballmer Group, California Endowment, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Alliance for Early Success, and the Annenberg Foundation, plus corporate foundation grants from Blue Shield of California Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Community Benefits, Deloitte Foundation, and Morgan Stanley Charitable Foundation. Go-to-market is coalition-led: Children Now does not sell services but converts research and coalition infrastructure into policy influence, measured in campaign signatures (18,000+ across 35+ campaigns) and legislative outcomes such as the $2.7 million in foster youth bridge funding and co-sponsorship of multiple California bills.
Children Now firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Children Now
- Legal name
- Children Now
- Website
- https://childrennow.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Children Now is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan research and advocacy organization, founded in 1988 and based in Oakland, that drives California policy on behalf of children from prenatal to age 26 through research publications, coalition coordination, and The Children's Movement network of 6,000+ organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Children Now industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Policy Advocacy Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG), Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA), Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)
Keywords
Where Children Now is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Children Now business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Children Now accepts donations from individuals through their Support Our Work page, with options for one-time or recurring contributions.
- Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funders include foundations (Alliance for Early Success, Annenberg Foundation, Ballmer Group, California Endowment, Gates Foundation, etc.) and corporate foundations (Blue Shield of California Foundation, Deloitte Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Community Benefits Program, etc.). These grants support specific programs and general operations.
- Membership and Movement Participation: The Children's Movement membership is free to join but provides a network of organizations and individuals who demonstrate support for children's issues, potentially leading to increased donations and engagement.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Children Now product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Children Now is a nonpartisan nonprofit research, policy development, and advocacy organization that promotes children's health, education, child welfare, and early childhood development in California. It operates a connector model that unifies The Children's Movement of California — a network of 6,000+ organizations and thousands of individuals — to pass Pro-Kid policies through direct government relations, research publications (California Children's Report Card and County Scorecard), and coalition-based advocacy campaigns.
Product overview
Children Now is a nonprofit research, policy development, and advocacy organization that offers a portfolio of programs and initiatives rather than a traditional product. The organization operates The Children's Movement of California as its primary advocacy network, alongside research publications including the annual California Children's Report Card and County Scorecard. Additional offerings include the Alliance for Student Success, Bay Area STEM Ecosystem, California STEM Network, California Alliance for Children's Environmental Health (CACEH), and campaigns such as Coveredtil26, Talk the Tot, Talking with Kids, and the Student Leadership Summit. These programs collectively focus on policy advocacy, research, STEM education, early childhood development, child welfare, and environmental health for California children.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Children's Movement of California: The strongest kids' advocacy network in the country, a statewide network coordinated by Children Now with more than 6,000 organizations and thousands of individuals unified to prioritize children in policymaking.
Products and services
- The Children's Movement of California
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 6,000 organizations and 10,900+ individuals unified in the Children's Movement
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Children Now
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Children Now technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Children Now partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- California Alliance for Children’s RightscoreCo-sponsor of multiple policy bills including SB 492 (youth housing) and SB 1051 (foster child care). Key legal advocacy partner for child welfare policy initiatives.
- California Coalition for YouthcoreCo-sponsor of SB 492 (youth housing development) advocating for housing solutions for foster youth and homeless youth.
- California Youth ConnectioncoreCo-sponsor of AB 1602 (disaster aid for foster youth), representing youth with lived experience in foster care.
- Tech Oversight CaliforniacoreCo-sponsor of AB 2246 (Age Appropriate Design Code update), working together on tech regulation to protect children's online safety.
- Environmental Working GroupcoreCo-sponsor of AB 1901 (diaper safety disclosure), collaborating on children's product safety and environmental health issues.
- California Dental AssociationcoreCo-sponsor of AB 350 (fluoride varnish for kids), partnership on children's oral health policy and Medi-Cal coverage improvements.
- TICAS (Institute for College Access & Success)coreCo-sponsor of SB 1006 (Cal Grant reform), collaborating on higher education financial aid policy.
- Education Trust-WestcoreCo-sponsor of SB 1006 (Cal Grant reform), partnership on education equity and financial aid access.
- California Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatrycoreCo-sponsor of SB 363 (health plan transparency), working together on children's mental health care access and insurance accountability.
- Teach PlusmajorLeadership member of the Alliance for Student Success, focused on student-centered education policy and teacher reform.
- Ed VoicemajorLeadership member of the Alliance for Student Success, working on education reform and policy advocacy.
- Ed Trust WestmajorLeadership member of the Alliance for Student Success, focused on education equity and closing achievement gaps.
- STEM Learning EcosystemscoreNational initiative that Children Now's Bay Area STEM Ecosystem is a member of, supporting and scaling effective STEM learning opportunities for young people.
- Families Advocating for Chemical & Toxics Safety (FACTS)coreLendri Purcell of FACTS supports the California Alliance for Children's Environmental Health (CACEH), supporting toxic chemical safety advocacy for children.
- Riverside County STEM EcosystemminorPartnership with other regional STEM ecosystems in California as part of the STEM Learning Ecosystems national initiative.
- San Diego STEM EcosystemminorPartnership with other regional STEM ecosystems in California as part of the STEM Learning Ecosystems national initiative.
- Silicon Valley STEM EcosystemminorPartnership with other regional STEM ecosystems in California as part of the STEM Learning Ecosystems national initiative.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Children Now competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Common Sense Media: National children's media and technology policy advocacy organization. Comparable in policy advocacy model and California presence; co-sponsor with Children Now on tech-related bills (AB 2246 Age Appropriate Design Code). Direct overlap on kids' digital safety and media policy.
- National Center for Youth Law: California-based legal advocacy organization advancing youth rights in child welfare, immigration, and education. Operates in same California policy advocacy space with comparable child welfare/foster youth focus.
- The Children's Partnership: California-based nonprofit focused on children's digital inclusion and health policy advocacy. Closest direct peer to Children Now: same state-level policy advocacy model, similar funder profile (California health foundations), and overlapping child welfare/health agenda.
- First 5 California: California state commission funded by tobacco taxes, focused on early childhood development (prenatal to age 5). Direct peer in California policy ecosystem with overlapping early childhood and family support priorities, but backed by state-allocated funding rather than private philanthropy.
- California Alliance for Children's Rights: California-based legal advocacy organization for children in foster care, juvenile justice, and education. Strategic co-sponsor with Children Now on child welfare legislation (SB 492, SB 1051); operates in same California child welfare policy space.
Broad incumbents
- National Children's Alliance: National accrediting and advocacy body for Children's Advocacy Centers serving child abuse victims. Broader incumbent in children's advocacy space with national footprint and federal policy focus.
- UnidosUS: National Latino civil rights organization with significant children's education, health, and immigration advocacy portfolio. Broader incumbent sharing Children Now's equity-focused children's policy framing but with national scope and larger donor base.
- Children's Defense Fund: National children's policy and advocacy organization founded in 1973, operating across health, education, child welfare, and juvenile justice. Broader incumbent with similar mission and "whole-child" framing but at national rather than state scale.
Regional players
- Voices for Children (San Diego): San Diego-based Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and child welfare advocacy organization. Comparable state-level California children's advocacy org with similar coalition and volunteer mobilization model, though sub-state geographic focus.
- California Pan-Ethnic Health Network: California-based health equity advocacy coalition spanning 40+ community organizations. Comparable in California regional coalition-building model and health policy focus, though broader than children's issues.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Children Now social profiles
Digital presenceChildren Now financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Children Now leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Children Now subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Children Now funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Children Now M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Children Now
What does Children Now do?
Children Now is a nonpartisan nonprofit research, policy development, and advocacy organization that promotes children's health, education, child welfare, and early childhood development in California. It operates a connector model that unifies The Children's Movement of California — a network of 6,000+ organizations and thousands of individuals — to pass Pro-Kid policies through direct government relations, research publications (California Children's Report Card and County Scorecard), and coalition-based advocacy campaigns.
Is Children Now a public or private company?
Children Now is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Children Now founded?
Children Now was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Children Now based?
Children Now is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Children Now make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Grants and membership and Movement Participation.
Who are Children Now's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Common Sense Media, National Center for Youth Law, The Children's Partnership, First 5 California and California Alliance for Children's Rights. Broad incumbents are National Children's Alliance, UnidosUS and Children's Defense Fund. Regional players are Voices for Children (San Diego) and California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.
Does Children Now have an API?
No public API is recorded for Children Now.
What industry is Children Now in?
Children Now's product category is Children's Policy Advocacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPADAGAG, Child Rights & Protection. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.