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Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Npc

EIN 04-3337456 · Bangor, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, CULTURALLY CENTERED PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO ALL WABANKI COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE WHILE HONORING WABANAKI CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, CULTIVATING INNOVATION, AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION.

Income
$16.0 million
Spending
$16.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
-6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 83%
Employees
206
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$189,880, advanced practioner

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: 35 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 83% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).

  • 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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, 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 (5)
  1. $3.4 million spent. WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH: WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH IS A CENTER IN WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAMS WITHIN WPH IS TO PROVIDE PREVENTION SERVICES TO THE TRIBAL COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CULTURAL GATHERING, YOUTH COUNCILS, RAISING AWARENESS OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY EVENTS, SUCH AS HEALTH FAIRS. FUNCTIONS WITHIN WPH ALSO INCLUDE SUICIDE PREVENTION (SAMHSA NATIVE CONNECTIONS, SAMHSA GARRETT LEE SMITH TRIBAL YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION), MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT (CDC OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION, PEER RUN RECOVERY CENTER, SAMHSA STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS, HRSA RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM - PLANNING), HEALTHY COMMUNITIES (CDC TRIBAL PRACTICES FOR WELLNESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY) AND ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPORT (CDC TRIBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY BUILDING AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT UMBRELLA AGREEMENT).
  2. $945,640 spent. WABANAKI CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: WABANAKI CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IS A CENTER IN WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS WABANAKI COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CONNECTION IS THE NEWEST CENTER AT WPHW. WITHIN THIS CENTER, THE TEAM FOCUSES ON FOSTERING COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AND BEYOND. THE CORE AREAS OF CONCENTRATION ARE CULTURE, EDUCATION, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITY RESPONSE SUPPORTS, AND REPRESENTATION.
  3. $4.5 million spent. WABANAKI HEALING AND RECOVERY: WABANAKI HEALING AND RECOVERY IS A CENTER IN WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND SERVES AS THE HOME TO OUR CULTURALLY BASED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAMMING. IN 2024, WABANAKI HEALING AND RECOVERY HAD TWO RECOVERY HOMES IN BANGOR, ONE FOR MEN AND ONE FOR WOMEN. CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED ON THE HEALING LODGE AND THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED PLANNING WORK AT THE GATHERING PLACE, BOTH IN MILLINOCKET. THE ORGANIZATION IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL AND PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS INCLUDING THE HRSA RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM AND MEHAF GRANTS. WABANAKI HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS A DEPARTMENT WITHIN WABANAKI HEALING AND RECOVERY THAT OFFERS TRIBALLY ENROLLED NATIVE AMERICANS, BASED IN BANGOR, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE CASE MANAGEMENT; FREE HIV TESTING AND SCREENING; AND HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES. WABANAKI CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH CORNERSTONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TO OFFER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOME/ CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. WABANAKI DIVISION STAFF ARE EMPLOYED TO PROVIDE "BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOME" (BHHO) TARGETED SERVICES TO BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY HOUSING OF MAINE, WABANAKI OFFERS SAFE AFFORDABLE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO ENROLLED NATIVE AMERICANS. OUR GOAL IS TO END HOMELESSNESS AND HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE SELF- SUFFICIENCY. WHW IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL, STATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC GRANTS INCLUDING THE SAMHSA TRIBAL OPIOID RESPONSE, PEER RUN RECOVERY CENTER, MEHAF CAPACITY BUILDING, AND SEWALL HEALTHY PEOPLE.
  4. $660,291 spent. OPERATIONS: WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH FINANCIAL, HR, DATA, AND COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. IN 2024, WPHW CONTINUED TO PROVIDE OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION. IN ADDITION TO OPERATING SUPPORT, THE ORGANIZATION HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT TO OTHER TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS NEEDING FINANCIAL, HR, OR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.
  5. $3.0 million spent. WABANAKI RESEARCH, KNOWLEDGE & INNOVATION IS A CENTER WITHIN WABANAKI PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THE MISSION OF THE CENTER FOR WABANAKI RESEARCH, KNOWLEDGE & INNOVATION IS TO CREATE A WORK WHERE WABANAKI PEOPLE OVERCOME BARRIERS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES EMPOWERED BY WABANAKI-LED DATA AND RESEARCH. THIS WORK IS DONE BY WEAVING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE WITH WESTERN SCIENCES TO TELL THE STORY OF WABANAKI PEOPLE.

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

  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 2024.

    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 June 1997.

    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.