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Community Action Partnership of Strafford County

EIN 02-0268636 · Dover, NH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO EDUCATE, ADVOCATE AND ASSIST PEOPLE IN STRAFFORD COUNTY TO HELP MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE VALUE: COMPASSION, EDUCATION, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TEAM WORK, CLIENT FOCUS AND PROFESSIONALISM.

Income
$16.7 million
Spending
$16.5 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
185
Volunteers
187
Highest pay
$187,688, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 December 31, 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 (5)
  1. $5.7 million spent. CHILD SERVICES: HEAD START IS A NATIONAL SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND PARENT ANDCOMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SERVICES TO CHILDREN FROM ELIGIBLE FAMILIES.EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDE EARLY, CONTINUOUS, AND COMPREHENSIVECHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES. EARLY HEAD START IS A HOME-BASED PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 3 AND PREGNANT WOMEN. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES INFANT-TODDLER ACTIVITIES, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE, NUTRITION, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
  2. $3.8 million spent. ENERGY ASSISTANCE: CAP PRIMARILY ADMINISTERS THE FEDERAL LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) AND THE NH UTILITIES ELECTRICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP). BENEFITS ARE GIVEN TO CERTIFIED ELIGIBLE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE CALCULATED BASED ON: TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME, NUMBER OF ELDERLY, DISABLED AND/OR CHILDREN IN THE HOUSEHOLD, CURRENT ENERGY COSTS & HOUSING TYPE. LIHEAP & EAP PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN PAYING ENERGY BILLS. THE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES AND HIGHEST ENERGY COSTS GET THE GREATEST BENEFIT. HOUSEHOLDS MUST APPLY ANNUALLY. EAP PROVIDES CUSTOMERS A % DISCOUNT ON THEIR MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILLS.
  3. $2.1 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES: CAP OPERATES MORE THAN 25 PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR OUTREACH OFFICES & HOME VISITING SERVICES TO INCOME ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. THIS INCLUDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE DIETS OF LOW- INCOME CHILDREN, ADULTS AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR OWN FOOD PANTRIES AND BY COORDINATING WITH MORE THAN 20 OTHER PANTRIES & SOUP KITCHENS.WE COORDINATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF USDA COMMODITY FOOD COUNTYWIDE. CAP ENSURES CHILDREN RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS DURING THE SUMMER THROUGH THE USDA SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SUMMER MEALS) WITH SUPPORT FROM THE SHARE OUR STRENGTH FOUNDATION. SEVERAL HOME VISITING PROGRAMS PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT ON TOPICS SUCH AS: NUTRITION, BABY AND CHILD HEALTH CARE, BREAST AND FORMULA FEEDING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES CONCERNING: CHILD GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE.
  4. $1.6 million spent. HOUSING: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS CASE MANAGEMENT TO GUIDE AND EDUCATE CLIENT'S TRANSITION INTO STABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE A SECURITY DEPOSIT LOAN PROGRAM AND AN EMERGENCY SERVICES GRANT TO COVER BACK HOUSING AND UTILITY PAYMENTS TO PREVENT LOSS OF EXISTING HOUSING.WEATHERIZATION: THIS PROGRAM HELPS LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS LOWER THEIR ENERGY BILLS BY MAKING HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.
  5. $1.5 million spent. WEATHERIZATION: FROM THE LIST OF CLIENTS COLLECTED IN OUR ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, HIGH USAGE CLIENTS, WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND/OR DISABILITIES ARE SELECTED FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDITS. SUBSEQUENT INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES WILL REDUCE OUR CLIENTS' OVERALL ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.