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Contact Community Services Inc

EIN 16-0984299 · East Syracuse, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CONTACT COMMUNITY SERVICES IS A REGIONAL, HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION. CONTACT OFFERS COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES, SUPPORTED BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. CONTACT PROVIDES STRENGTHS-BASED SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS THAT ADVANCE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
4.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
157
Volunteers
42
Highest pay
$142,359, executve director

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

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 22% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 25

    18 of 18 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, 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 (2)
  1. $2.9 million spent. SCHOOL SERVICES - SCHOOL SERVICES DEPARTMENT UTILIZES RESEARCH-BASED, BEST-PRACTICE PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS THAT PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS, MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL WELLBEING, AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE PAX GOOD BEHAVIOR GAME IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED, SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT CLASSROOM TEACHERS USE TO ADDRESS DISRUPTIVE, INATTENTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. PRIMARY PROJECT IS A SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR K-3RD GRADE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED WITH SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS. THROUGH THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH/SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH SHORT-TERM THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE USE, RELATIONSHIP, FAMILY OR OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT, INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND CRISIS COUNSELING, REFERRAL AND FOLLOW-UP. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES - CONDUCTS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL DAY SUPPORTS WHICH PROVIDE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, ASSESSMENT AND TUTORING, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, CAREER EXPLORATION, FAMILY LIFE AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION, POSITIVE RECREATION AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE LEARNING. ALL AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS MEET THE AFTER-SCHOOL CORPORATION'S 10 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS THAT DEFINED QUALITY IN AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. SUICIDE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS, A MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM, PROVIDES CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND SUICIDE SAFETY TRAINING TO THE ONONDAGA COUNTY SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHING STAFF AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, PROTOCOLS AND TRAININGS.
  2. $3.9 million spent. CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES: (CIS) PROVIDES A 24-HOUR SUICIDE AND CRISIS COUNSELING LINE; 211 CNY, A 24-HOUR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SOURCE FOR HUMAN SERVICES, BASIC NEEDS AND MENTAL HEALTH; AND TELECARE, A REASSURANCE LINE TO SUPPORT THE PERSONAL SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF HOMEBOUND INDIVIDUALS. THE 24-HOUR COUNSELING SUPPORT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS AND/OR IN NEED OF EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL PLAN TO MANAGE AND/OR PREVENT FUTURE CRISIS. THE 211 SYSTEM HELPS RESIDENTS OF FIVE COUNTIES: ONONDAGA, OSWEGO, JEFFERSON, LEWIS, AND ST. LAWRENCE FIND RESOURCES. WE ALSO PROVIDE TELEPHONE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN EVALUATED AND IN CARE AT HUTCHING'S PSYCHIATRIC CENTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM (CYS) AND AFTER-HOURS COVERAGE FOR FOURTEEN MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1971.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.