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Preventionfocus Inc

EIN 16-1383260 · Buffalo, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair54 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PREVENTIONFOCUS, INC. EMPOWERS CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND ENTIRE COMMUNITIES WITH THE SKILLS, INFORMATION, AND TOOLS NEEDED TO MAKE POSITIVE LIFE CHOICES. MAKING SAFE AND HEALTHY HAPPEN. WE IMPLEMENT PROVEN PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO PREVENT AND REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, VIOLENCE, PROBLEM GAMBLING, BULLYING, AND OTHER RELATED PROBLEM BEHAVIORS WHILE ENCOURAGING MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 95%
Employees
14
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$112,369, executive director

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

Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 34% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 25

    11 of 11 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, 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 (3)
  1. $765,028 spent. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL) - LIFE SKILLS TRAINING (LST) IS A RESEARCH-VALIDATED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM PROVEN TO REDUCE THE RISKS OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUG ABUSE, AND VIOLENCE BY TARGETING THE MAJOR SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT PROMOTE THE INITIATION OF SUBSTANCE USE AND OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS. PREVENTIONFOCUS, INC. USES THIS CURRICULUM IN CLASSROOMS (ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS) ACROSS THE DISTRICTS OF ERIE COUNTY WHERE THE RISK PROFILES FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY ARE HIGH. OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITATIONS OF THIS CURRICULUM HAVE DEVELOPMENTALLY AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES SPECIFIC FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL FROM K-5 (ELEMENTARY) AND FROM 6-8 (MIDDLE).IN ADDITION TO LST, PREVENTIONFOCUS ALSO IMPLEMENTS THE TOO GOOD MODEL PROGRAMS FROM THE MENDEZ FOUNDATION AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS. TOO GOOD PROGRAMS PUT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING TO WORK THROUGH FUN AND INTERACTIVE LESSONS, BUILDING THE SELF-CONFIDENCE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS AND TOO GOOD FOR VIOLENCE SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES PROMOTE POSITIVE, PRO-SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR, WHILE FOSTERING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, RESISTANCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CONFLICT, AND RESISTANCE TO NEGATIVE PEER PRESSURE AND INFLUENCE. PREVENTIONFOCUS IMPLEMENTS TOO GOOD FOR VIOLENCE IN GRADES K-3 AND TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS IN GRADES 5 AND 7.
  2. $15,531 spent. THE BESTSELF RECOVERY COMMUNITY LOCATED AT PREVENTIONFOCUS IS A NON-CLINICAL COLLABORATIVE VENTURE WITH BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ADULTS WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN THEIR RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER VISIT THE CENTER FOR A VARIETY OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RANGING FROM RECOVERY COACHING TO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE YOGA, COOKING CLASSES, PAINTING CLASSES, DISCUSSION GROUPS, FIELD TRIPS, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
  3. $343,083 spent. PREVENTIONFOCUS PARTNERED WITH THE NY COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING TO SUPPORT THE YOU(TH) DECIDE CAMPAIGN IN ERIE COUNTY. THE CAMPAIGN WORKS HELP PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING BY: (1) INCREASING YOUTH AWARENESS THAT MEDIA MESSAGES ARE CONSTRUCTED USING SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES TO CONVEY MEANING AND AFFECT THE VIEWER/LISTENER'S BELIEFS AND ACTIONS. (2) HELPING YOUTH UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF GAMBLING.(3) DECREASING YOUTH EXPOSURE TO GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADVERTISING AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOL, ETC. (4) PROVIDING A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR YOUTH, PARENTS AND COMMUNITIES WHO WANT TO HELP IN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT UNDERAGE GAMBLING SUCH AS:(A) INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS LIKE PALM CARDS, BROCHURES AND POSTERS.(B) FACTS ABOUT GAMBLING AND GAMBLING ADDICTION.(C) UP TO DATE NEWS AND RESEARCH SURROUNDING UNDERAGE GAMBLING.

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

  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 2024.

    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 May 1991.

    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.