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Commonspace

EIN 01-0500860 · Portland, ME

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

COMMONSPACE CREATES SHARED SPACES OF CARE, JUSTICE, AND RECOVERY IN ALL ITS FORMS.

Income
$3.9 million
Spending
$4.3 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
-1.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
77
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$131,065, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 34 out of 100. Higher than 8% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 160% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $370,290 spent. PORTLAND PEER CENTER: PROVIDES ONE-TO-ONE AND GROUP-BASED PEER SUPPORT, COMMUNITY NAVIGATION, HARM REDUCTION, AND OTHER SERVICES.
  2. $293,257 spent. BATH RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER: PROVIDES RECOVERY COACHING, GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ADULTS IN SAGADAHOC COUNTY WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
  3. $3.0 million spent. LINCOLN COUNTY RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER (NEWCASTLE): PROVIDES RECOVERY COACHING, GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ADULTS IN LINCOLN COUNTY WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. RECOVERY-CENTERED HOUSING PROGRAMS: 28 BEDS IN FOUR SEPARATE HOUSES (PATTY'S PLACE, BEACON HOUSE, BRACKETT ST., AND NYE ST.) SUPPORTING MEN AND WOMEN EMERGING FROM HOMELESSNESS AND COMPLEX SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. FREEDOM PLACE AT 66 STATE STREET: 38-UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM, WITH A RECOVERY FOCUS, FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, COMPLEX SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM: PROVIDES COOKED MEALS AND EMERGENCY SHELTER. CURRENT FOOD AND SHELTER OPERATION IS IN PORTLAND, FOR ASYLUM-SEEKING FAMILIES AT OUR FAMILY SHELTER. HOUSING SUPPORTS: SUPPORTS CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED PORTLANDERS WITH SECURING HOUSING AND NEEDED ITEMS AND RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN HOUSING. PROJECT RE-ENTRY: A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY JAIL AND SEVERAL PARTNERS. COMMONSPACE SUPPORTS TWO RECOVERY COACHES WHO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED AND POST-DISCHARGE FROM THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY JAIL. HARM REDUCTION: SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAM IN PORTLAND, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
  4. LINCOLN COUNTY RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER (NEWCASTLE): PROVIDES RECOVERY COACHING, GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ADULTS IN LINCOLN COUNTY WHO ARE CHALLENGED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. RECOVERY-CENTERED HOUSING PROGRAMS: 28 BEDS IN FOUR SEPARATE HOUSES (PATTY'S PLACE, BEACON HOUSE, BRACKETT ST., AND NYE ST.) SUPPORTING MEN AND WOMEN EMERGING FROM HOMELESSNESS AND COMPLEX SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. FREEDOM PLACE AT 66 STATE STREET: 38-UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM, WITH A RECOVERY FOCUS, FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, COMPLEX SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM: PROVIDES COOKED MEALS AND EMERGENCY SHELTER. CURRENT FOOD AND SHELTER OPERATION IS IN PORTLAND, FOR ASYLUM-SEEKING FAMILIES AT OUR FAMILY SHELTER. HOUSING SUPPORTS: SUPPORTS CHRONICALLY UNHOUSED PORTLANDERS WITH SECURING HOUSING AND NEEDED ITEMS AND RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN HOUSING. PROJECT RE-ENTRY: A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY JAIL AND SEVERAL PARTNERS. COMMONSPACE SUPPORTS TWO RECOVERY COACHES WHO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED AND POST-DISCHARGE FROM THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY JAIL. HARM REDUCTION: SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAM IN PORTLAND, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAINE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.