Mental Health Association of Southern Tier Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRIMARILY THROUGH REFERRALS, INFORMATION, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND OTHER SERVICES
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 5.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 76%
- Employees
- 36
- Highest pay
- $104,116, executive dir.
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 40% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% 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 69% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (6)
- $763,633 spent. OUR HOUSE/ CRISIS RESPITE- OUR HOUSE IS A VOLUNTARY RESPITE CENTER OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO EMERGENCY HOSPITALIZATION FOR INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS AND OLDER EXPERIENCING PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS. GUESTS RECEIVE 24-HOUR SUPPORT FROM PEERS (INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES OF RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND TRAINED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OTHERS) IN A FRIENDLY, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT FOR UP TO 5 DAYS PER STAY. OUR HOUSE FOSTERS WARMTH, EMPATHY AND COMPASSION, TOGETHER WITH A WIDE RANGE OF RECOVERY ORIENTED SERVICES INCLUDING SELF-ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, SELF-HELP-TRAINING, ALONG WITH GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE ACTIVITIES.
- $383,274 spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION- CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES IS A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, CONSUMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO HELP INDIVDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES ACCESS MEDICAL AND/OR COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT RATHER THAN PLACE THEM IN THE CRIMINIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MOBILE TEAM ACCOMPANIES THE POLICE ON 911 CALLS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. INDIVIDUALS ARE THEN ASSESSED FOR RISK TO SELF OR OTHERS AND CONNECTED WITH APPROPRIATE REFERRALS AND RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES ONGOING MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TO LAW ENFORECEMENT OFFICIALS.
- $261,172 spent. SUNRISE WELLNESS CENTER- THE SUNRISE WELLNESS CENTER IS A PEER RUN PROGRAM PROMOTING RECOVERY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES A SELF-DIRECTED APPROACH TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND PROMOTES MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SPIRITUAL WELLNESS.
- $228,476 spent. SUPPORTIVE CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER- THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHERN TIER PARTNERED WITH CARE COMPASS TO ESTABLISH A NEW SUPPORTIVE CRISIS STABILIZATION CENTER. THE GOAL OF THE SPACE IS TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THAT EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER RELATED CRISIS.
- $158,029 spent. PEER ADVOCACY- THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM ENCOURAGES AND PROMOTES SELF-HELP AND PEER SUPPORT. THESE SERVICES HELP TO EMPOWER RECIPIENTS TO BECOME SELF-DIRECTED AND TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY RECOVERY PROCESS. THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM UTILIZES WALK-IN HOURS, MEETINGS, AND PRESENTATIONS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND GIVE INFORMATION TO CONSUMERS. THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF RECIPIENTS BY AIDING THEM IN THEIR PERSONAL STRUGGLE AGAINST STIGMA. PEER ADVOCATES HELP RECIPIENTS TO REALIZE THEIR PERSONAL STRENGTHS, WICH ALLOWS THEM TO SUCCEED. ASSISTANCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE I N IMMEDIATED AND LONG-TERM GOALS SUCH AS FINANCIAL STABILITY, HOUSE ISSUES AND FURTHER EDUCATION.
- $5,802 spent. OUTREACH & EDUCATION- THE MENTAL ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHERN TIER WORKS CLOSELY WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO RAISE, NOT ONLY FUNDS, BUT AWARENESS OF OUR MISSION AND THE WONDERFUL WORK WE DO TO HELP THOSE IN NEED OF SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. IN ADDITION TO THE EVENTS WE ORGANIZE IN-HOUSE, OTHERS ARE ORGANIZED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BENEFIT MHAST: BINGHAMTON POND FESTIVAL, TIMM'S MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT, WINDGS OF HOPE AND ROCK AGAINST SUICIDE. IN 2018, NEW YORK STATE PASSED AN UNPRECENDENTED LAW MANDATING MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS K-12 AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN MORE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE STUDENTS ABOUT DIFD POWER TO THE PURPLE TO PROMOTE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AND TO BREAK DOWN THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED MENTAL ILLNESS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO OFFER MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, AN EIGHT-HOUR COURSE THAT TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES AND CONNECT THEM WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPORT WHEN NECESSARY.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1968.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 2026.
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