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Way Back Inc

EIN 11-2551825 · Prt Jefferson, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE REHABILITATIVE HOUSING SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES REINTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY.THE AGENCY PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE HOUSING SERVICES AND STAFF SUPPORT AS A PRIMARY MECHANISM FOR ACHIEVING THESE GOALS. WE ENCOURAGE THE FULL PARTICIPATION OF RESIDENTS IN THEIR REHABILITATION PROCESS SO THEY MAY REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL OF LIVING PRODUCTIVELY, COHESIVELY, AND HAPPILY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS OF THE PROGRAM AT THE WAY BACK IS TO PREPARE RESIDENTS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAM TEACHES RESIDENTS THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY LIVE OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY RESIDENCE STRUCTURE. A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REHABILITATIVE GOAL PLANNING PROCESS IS REQUIRED.

Income
$6.8 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 89%
Employees
104
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$264,979, ceo/secretary

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

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% 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 December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $3.5 million spent. COMMUNITY RESIDENCEIN THE SUPERVISED PHASE OF OUR PROGRAM, RESIDENTS LIVE IN GROUP HOMES. TRAINED COUNSELORS WHO ARE ON SITE 24 HOURS A DAY FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE STAFF THESE HOMES. A YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM IS ALSO OFFERED TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE 18-25-AGE RANGE.RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE SUPERVISED SITES RECEIVE COUNSELING, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, ASSISTANCE WITH COOKING AND CLEANING, FOOD SHOPPING, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND PARTICIPATE IN REHABILITATIVE ACTIVITIES. WEEKLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS GIVE RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PLANNING HOUSE ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE HOME. THE EMPHASIS IN THIS PHASE IS TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENT IN ACQUIRING BASIC LIVING SKILLS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. APARTMENT TREATMENT RESIDENTS OF THE APARTMENT TREATMENT PROGRAM GENERALLY REQUIRE LESS STAFF SUPPORT THAN IN THE SUPERVISED PROGRAM. MANY OF OUR APARTMENT TREATMENT RESIDENTS LIVED IN THE SUPERVISED PROGRAM AND HAVE GAINED THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR THE APARTMENT TREATMENT PROGRAM.STAFF VISITS VARY DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS. USUALLY, COUNSELORS VISIT RESIDENTS 3- 5 TIMES PER WEEK. HOWEVER, VISITS CAN BE INCREASED SHOULD RESIDENTS NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE 24 -HOUR TELEPHONE ACCESS TO STAFF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.THE APARTMENT TREATMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, YET STILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF FREQUENT STAFF SUPPORT. RESIDENTS WORK ON AREAS NEEDED FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SUCH AS, SYMPTOM AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND BUDGETING.THE WAY BACK'S APARTMENT TREATMENT LOCATIONS ARE SITUATED THROUGHOUT SUFFOLK COUNTY, LONG ISLAND, NY. ALL PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, STORES, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND SERVICES. ALL APARTMENTS ARE PRIVATE HOMES, WHICH PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL BEDROOMS TO RESIDENTS.
  3. $610,446 spent. SUPPORTED HOUSINGTHE WAY BACK, INC. PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES WITH HOUSING. SUPPORTED HOUSING IS, BY DESIGN, PERMANENT HOUSING AND PEOPLE IN OUR HOUSING PROGRAM ARE ENJOYING THE FEELING OF PERMANENCY. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE IN OUR PROGRAM HAVE BEEN IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS AND MOVING "TO THE NEXT PHASE" WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE PLAN.SUPPORTED HOUSING PROVIDES THE SECURITY OF PERMANENT HOUSING, THE FLEXIBILITY OF INDEPENDENT HOUSING AND THE SUPPORT OF OMH FUNDED HOUSING IN ONE PROGRAM.
  4. MANAGEMENT FEES

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 February 1982.

    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.