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Ampersand Families

EIN 14-2004438 · Roseville, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak29 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AMPERSAND FAMILIES WALKS ALONGSIDE YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WITH A COMMITMENT TO BUILD AND RESTORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WHILE CENTERING AND UPHOLDING A YOUTH'S WHOLE IDENTITY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
0.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 94%
Employees
37
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$146,608, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 29 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    7 of 7 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 June 30, 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 (1)
  1. $2.3 million spent. YOUTH DEPARTMENT: OUR YOUTH DEPARTMENT WORKS TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IN NEED OF AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY, IN FY25 WE SUPPORTED A TOTAL OF 51 YOUTH THROUGH OUR CHILD SPECIFIC RECRUITMENT. THESE SERVICES ARE YOUTH CENTERED AND FOCUSED ON FINDING FAMILIES FOR YOUTH BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND DESIRES; 7 OF THESE CASES CLOSED WITH AN ADOPTION PLAN. OUR MYVOICE PROGRAM PROVIDES PEER SUPPORT AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA AGES 12-22 WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE IN THE FOSTER CARE/ADOPTION SYSTEM. IN FY25, WE PROVIDED 97 OPPORTUNITIES/EVENTS FOR YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN; ENGAGED 104 INDIVIDUAL YOUTH; WHO PARTICIPATED IN MYVOICE PROGRAMMING 762 TIMES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LANGUAGE.WE PROVIDE CLINICAL SUPPORTS TO FAMILIES, TO HELP SUPPORT PERMANENCY PLACEMENTS, PREVENT DISRUPTIONS, AND SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES WE WORK WITH. IN FY25, WE PROVIDED 30 CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS TO FAMILIES BASED ON THOSE ASSESSMENTS. THE MINNESOTA HEART GALLERY HELPS YOUTH WAITING FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES WITH A PHOTO SESSION PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHERS. THESE PHOTOS ARE USED TO HELP RECRUIT ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ALSO PROVIDES YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEMSELVES AS THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE. IN FY25, WE PROVIDED 53 YOUTH WITH PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SESSIONS. KIN LINK DEPARTMENT: OUR KIN LINK DEPARTMENT PROVIDES RELATIVE SEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT SERVICES TO IDENTIFY RELATIVES AND KIN WILLING TO PROVIDE PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR YOUTH IN ORDER TO KEEP KIDS CONNECTED TO FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE. IN FY25 WE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAMING BY ADDING 7 COUNTIES. WE SERVED 83 YOUTH AT THE INITIAL POINT OF CHILDREN ENTERING FOSTER CARE THROUGH OUR 30 DAYS TO FAMILY PROGRAMMING; WE SERVED 54 YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FOR SOME TIME THROUGH OUR RELATIVE SEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT SERVICES. FAMILY DEPARTMENT: THE FAMILY DEPARTMENT PARTNERS WITH RELATIVE AND NON-RELATIVE FAMILIES IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND COORDINATION THROUGH THE CHILD FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION LICENSING PROCESS, MATCH SERVICES FOR NON-RELATIVE FAMILIES SEEKING TO ADOPT A YOUTH FROM MINNESOTA'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, PLACEMENT SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, CASE MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESOURCES. IN FY25, AMPERSAND'S FAMILY DEPARTMENT COMPLETED 30 HOME STUDY ASSESSMENTS, REQUIRED FOR CHILD FOSTER CARE/ADOPTION. ALL OF THESE FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVED TRAINING PROVIDED THROUGH AMPERSAND FAMILIES, SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE, TRAUMA-INFORMED PARENTING, THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM AND PROCESSES, PARENTING IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY, SUPPORTING AND AFFIRMING A YOUTH'S WHOLE IDENTITY, ETC. TO SUPPORT FAMILIES, MITIGATE BARRIERS, AND PREVENT DISRUPTION, THE FAMILY DEPARTMENT HELD MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS, COMPLETED THREE FAMILY RETREATS, AND PROVIDED MANY REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, CHILD CARE, BASIC NEEDS, TRANSPORTATION, ETC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 January 2008.

    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.