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The Community Action Organization of Western New York Inc

EIN 16-0911473 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH ADVOCACY PARTNERSHIPS, ACCESS TO SERVICES AND LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$35.9 million
Spending
$36.5 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
505
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$221,900, evp and chief of education

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 79% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 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 February 28, 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. $23.3 million spent. CAO HEAD START (HS) AND EARLY HEAD START (EHS) CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF 831 HS AND 205 EHS IN ERIE COUNTY, 200 HS SLOTS FOR NIAGARA COUNTY, AND THE PROGRAM WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH TEN (12) DAYCARE PROVIDERS SUPPORTING ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY (225) INFANTS/TODDLERS, WE ARE WORKING ON COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DAY CARE PROVIDERS AS WELL FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS. 12% OF THE HS/EHS OPENINGS ARE RESERVED FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. CAO ALSO PARTNERS WITH EARLY HEAD START CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS TO SERVICE APPROXIMATELY 160 PRESCHOOLERS AT 7 LOCATIONS. WE HAVE OVER 29 EDUCATION AGREEMENTS AND OVER 95 COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EXEMPLARY COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN COOPERATIVE, COLLABORATIVE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS.
  2. $4.0 million spent. THE CAO DRUG ABUSE, RESEARCH AND TREATMENT PROGRAM (DART) CURRENTLY SERVES APPROXIMATELY 450 CONSUMERS IN OUR OUTPATIENT OPIATE TREATMENT PROGRAM. THE CLIENTS ATTEND OUR CLINIC DAILY AT WHICH TIME THEY RECEIVE MEDICATION, METHADONE THAT ASSISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR RECOVERY FROM OPIATE DEPENDENCE. CLIENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ATTEND WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH THEIR ASSIGNED COUNSELOR AS WELL AS GROUP THERAPY, WHOSE GOALS ARE TO IDENTIFY THE ANTECEDENTS TO ADDICTION AND DEVELOP AND MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR RECOVERY PLANS. DURING THIS PERIOD THE DART PROGRAM CONDUCTED 138,050 DISPENSING AND APPROXIMATELY 32,630 CLINICAL EPISODES OF CARE.
  3. $3.0 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT - THE CAO IS A COMMUNITY BASED, CITIZEN DRIVEN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS ACROSS ERIE COUNTY, NY WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN SITE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT, FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTIONS, EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING, REPORTING TO FUNDING SOURCES AND CREATING AND MAINTAINING VITAL PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ON AVERAGE WE SERVE OVER 38,000 INDIVIDUALS AND OVER 38,000 FAMILIES AT OVER 8 SITES ANNUALLY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending February 28, 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 February 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 May 1966.

    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.