Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SERVE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY SUPPORTING, SPONSORING, ADMINISTERING, AND OVERSEEING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE GREATER WILKES-BARRE AREA.
- Income
- $956,734
- Spending
- $802,852
- Spent on programs
- 55%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 58
- Highest pay
- $161,593, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 33 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 72% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1555% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2543 of 44 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $441,344 spent. GREATER WILKES-BARRE CHAMBER OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IS ORGANIZED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, OR THE CORRESPONDING SECTION OF ANY FUTURE TAX CODE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION TO SUPPORT, BENEFIT, AND CARRY OUT THE SECTION 501(C)(3) PURPOSES OF THE GREATER WYOMING VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE GREATER WILKES-BARRE INDUSTRIAL FUND, AND THE GREATER WILKES-BARRE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BY: (A) SPONSORING, SUPPORTING, ADMINISTERING AND OVERSEEING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE GREATER WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA AREA; RELIEVE POVERTY, COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION, AND CREATE JOBS;(B) ENHANCING REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE REGION;(C) ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, OWNERSHIP AND LEASING OF DISTRESSED REAL PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PROMOTE THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE GREATER WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA AREA;(D) PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE, MANAGERIAL, MARKETING, ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING AND SIMILAR SUPPORTING SERVICES TO AFFILIATED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS;(E) UNDERTAKING FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE CORPORATION'S ACTIVITIES OR THOSE ACTIVITIES OF ITS AFFILIATED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES;(F) AWARDING GRANTS AND GIFTS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OF AFFILIATED NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES; AND(G) DOING SUCH THINGS AS ARE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THESE PURPOSES AS WELL AS ANY LAWFUL PURPOSE OR PURPOSES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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