A Better Childhood
A Better Childhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses class action litigation to reform state child welfare systems, representing foster children in federal courts across 13 states and Washington D.C. Founded in 2014, it is funded by charitable donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What A Better Childhood does
A Better Childhood (ABC) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization founded in 2014 by Marcia Robinson Lowry, headquartered at 420 Lexington Ave, New York. The organization uses class action litigation as its primary mechanism to reform state child welfare systems, representing children in foster care through federal court lawsuits against state agencies. ABC operates as a watchdog and litigation shop, actively litigating in 13 states plus Washington D.C. (Alaska, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York City, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, San Bernardino County CA, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia). Notable outcomes include the conclusion of 13-year federal oversight of Oklahoma's foster care system in March 2025, the approval of a historic Oregon settlement in September 2024, and ongoing certified class actions in West Virginia and New York City representing approximately 13,800 foster children collectively.
ABC's business model is donation-driven with no fee-for-service revenue. The organization is funded by charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and grants, supplemented by event-based fundraising through Team ABC's participation in the TCS NYC Marathon as an official charity partner, where runners commit to a minimum $6,000 fundraising threshold per runner. The organization does not sell products, license technology, or charge for legal services. ABC works directly with government targets (state child welfare agencies) but the "customer" beneficiary is the abstract class of foster children whose interests are represented in litigation. The organization does not deploy proprietary technology; its core operating capability is its legal team of approximately 13 staff, including attorneys (many drawn from elite firms and federal clerkships) and paralegals.
The strategic positioning is differentiated by being the only national nonprofit using the courts as its primary reform strategy in child welfare, with a founder who pioneered the body of law protecting vulnerable children in the United States. ABC's growth comes from acquiring new certified classes, expanding to additional state jurisdictions, and hiring additional litigation capacity. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the organization does not file traditional commercial financials.
A Better Childhood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A Better Childhood
- Legal name
- A Better Childhood
- Website
- https://abetterchildhood.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A Better Childhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses class action litigation to reform state child welfare systems, representing foster children in federal courts across 13 states and Washington D.C. Founded in 2014, it is funded by charitable donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A Better Childhood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Advocacy / Child Welfare Litigation Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)
Keywords
Where A Better Childhood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A Better Childhood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and other donors to fund its operations and litigation activities.
- Marathon Fundraising: Team ABC participates in TCS NYC Marathon charity partner program, with runners committing to raise minimum $6,000 each.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
A Better Childhood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A Better Childhood is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that uses the power of the courts to reform dysfunctional state child welfare systems. It files and prosecutes class action lawsuits against state child welfare agencies on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care, and monitors state compliance with court-ordered reforms. The organization also runs reform campaigns, conducts watchdog activities, and engages in advocacy to ensure governments meet their legal obligations to protect children in state custody.
Product overview
A Better Childhood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization focused on child welfare reform through legal advocacy. The organization does not offer traditional technology products or services. Instead, it conducts reform campaigns and class action lawsuits against state child welfare systems to compel change through the power of the courts. The organization's work includes watchdog activities, litigation, monitoring state responses, and advocacy to ensure governments meet their legal responsibilities to protect children.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Class Action Litigation against State Child Welfare Systems Pro bono federal class action lawsuits filed against state child welfare agencies on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care, seeking court-ordered systemic reform. Active in 13 states and Washington D.C.
- Reform Campaigns and Watchdog Advocacy System-wide advocacy and watchdog activities to hold governments accountable for protecting children in state custody, complementing litigation with public pressure and policy engagement.
- Court-Ordered Reform Monitoring and Compliance Oversight Ongoing monitoring of states' responses to court-ordered child welfare reforms to ensure compliance, with litigation follow-up when reforms stall or fail.
- Team ABC Marathon Charity Fundraising Program Charity runner team participating in the TCS NYC Marathon that raises donations from supporters to fund ABC's child welfare reform work, with each runner committing to a minimum fundraising amount.
Quantifiable outcome
- Improved lives of hundreds of thousands of children
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use A Better Childhood
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
A Better Childhood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
A Better Childhood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A Better Childhood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Public Counsel: Largest pro bono legal services provider in the U.S., with significant child welfare and foster care impact litigation work; comparable in mission scope, nonprofit funding model, and class-action strategy.
- Children's Rights: National nonprofit founded by Marcia Robinson Lowry that litigates class actions against state child welfare systems — the same core strategy and founder lineage as ABC, making it the most direct comparable peer.
- Juvenile Law Center: Nonprofit focused on child welfare and juvenile justice through impact litigation and policy advocacy — closely comparable to ABC's litigation-driven model.
- National Center for Youth Law: Nonprofit legal advocacy organization focused on advancing child welfare, juvenile justice, and education rights for low-income children — closely comparable mission and class-action reform approach.
Others
- Lambda Legal: National legal organization using impact litigation and advocacy to advance civil rights; comparable nonprofit litigation-driven operating model in a different rights area.
- Brennan Center for Justice: Nonpartisan law and policy institute using research, litigation, and advocacy to advance systemic reform; comparable nonprofit legal-advocacy operating model but unrelated subject matter.
Emerging players
- Disability Rights Advocates: Nonprofit law firm using high-impact litigation to advance disability rights, including institutional reform cases adjacent to ABC's foster care work.
Broad incumbents
- Children's Defense Fund: National child advocacy organization combining policy, research, and litigation to improve outcomes for children, particularly in foster care; comparable mission but operates more through policy/advocacy than class-action litigation.
- Southern Poverty Law Center: Large nonprofit using impact litigation, education, and advocacy to pursue systemic reform — comparable legal-advocacy-nonprofit operating model but with a much broader civil rights mandate.
- ACLU: Foundational civil liberties nonprofit and impact-litigation organization where Lowry previously ran the Children's Rights Project; highly comparable nonprofit legal-advocacy operating model at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
A Better Childhood social profiles
Digital presenceA Better Childhood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A Better Childhood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
A Better Childhood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A Better Childhood 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 A Better Childhood
What does A Better Childhood do?
A Better Childhood is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization that uses the power of the courts to reform dysfunctional state child welfare systems. It files and prosecutes class action lawsuits against state child welfare agencies on behalf of abused and neglected children in foster care, and monitors state compliance with court-ordered reforms. The organization also runs reform campaigns, conducts watchdog activities, and engages in advocacy to ensure governments meet their legal obligations to protect children in state custody.
Is A Better Childhood a public or private company?
A Better Childhood is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was A Better Childhood founded?
A Better Childhood was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is A Better Childhood based?
A Better Childhood is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does A Better Childhood make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are marathon Fundraising.
Who are A Better Childhood's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Public Counsel, Children's Rights, Juvenile Law Center and National Center for Youth Law. Others are Lambda Legal and Brennan Center for Justice. Disability Rights Advocates is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Children's Defense Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center and ACLU.
Does A Better Childhood have an API?
No public API is recorded for A Better Childhood.
What industry is A Better Childhood in?
A Better Childhood's product category is Legal Advocacy / Child Welfare Litigation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAE, Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.