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Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Rensselaer County Area Inc

EIN 14-1490509 · Troy, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION, INC. (CEO) IS AN UMBRELLA AGENCY THAT PROVIDES THE OVERALL LEADERSHIP, POLICY GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFULLY DELIVER A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES. THE PROGRAMS AT CEO ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO BUILD SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN ALL LIFE AREAS AND RISE OUT OF POVERTY. CEO WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY ADDRESSING THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

Income
$15.3 million
Spending
$15.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
237
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$203,022, president

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

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $9.1 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS - CEO'S HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS PROVIDE SERVICES TO INCOME ELIGIBLE FAMILIES IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. APPROXIMATELY 600 CHILDREN WERE SERVED DURING FISCAL 2025.
  2. $1.5 million spent. NUTRITION PROGRAMS - CEO'S FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES RENSSELAER COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH EMERGENCY FOOD WIC (SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN) PROVIDES NUTRITION EDUCATION AND NUTRITIONAL FOOD PACKAGES FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT, BREAST-FEEDING, OR HAVE GIVEN BIRTH AND THEIR CHILDREN UP TO AGE FIVE. APPROXIMATELY 2,000 FAMILIES WERE SERIVED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025.
  3. $941,423 spent. HOUSING PROGRAMS - WEATHERIZATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGETO INCOME ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS. EMPOWER NY ASSISTS HOUSEHOLDS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. APPROXIMATELY 450 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDING 2025.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 November 6, 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 March 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 December 1965.

    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 November 4, 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.